Acquisitions and Disposals (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 18, 2019	Dec. 01, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 16,976	$ 17,375	$ 16,908
(Loss) gain on equity and other investments, net	(4,927)	111
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Indemnity Escrow	2,000
Percentage of shares acquired				42.00%
Loan commitment to Rhapsody					$ 5,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Income		2,175
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(733)	(206)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of discontinued operations	0	(184)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to RealNetworks	$ (733)	(22)
Cash received		22,849
Disposal Group, Net Assets Disposed		(20,935)
Gain on sale of business		1,900
Existing equity interest				84.00%
Portion of Proceeds from Asset Sale Used to Pay Third Parties		5,300
Contingent Consideration Settlement, Cash		2,500
Contingent Consideration Settlement, Shares	47.8
Portion of Proceeds from Asset Sale Retained, Net		4,200
Proceeds Retained from Sale of Subsidiary, Shares	173.3
Claims Against Indemnity Escrow	$ 200
Indemnity Escrow, Written Off	700
Napster Disposal
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sale price	26,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration, Cash	12,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Indemnity Escrow	3,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue		96,185
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Costs of Goods Sold		73,318
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Gross Profit (Loss)		22,867
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expense		24,734
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Income (Loss)		(1,867)
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax		308
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation		514
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(206)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of discontinued operations		(184)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to RealNetworks	$ (22)
Napster Dispostion
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Gain on sale of business		$ 1,914