UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 15,888	$ 16,822
Cost of revenue	3,679	4,104
Gross profit	12,209	12,718
Operating expenses:
Research and development	6,238	6,606
Sales and marketing	5,137	6,000
General and administrative	4,898	5,161
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	(1,040)	(300)
Restructuring and other charges	3,171	86
Total operating expenses	18,404	17,553
Operating loss	(6,195)	(4,835)
Other income (expenses):
Interest Expense	95	0
Interest income	13	6
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments	(4,272)	0
Other income, net	104	238
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(4,250)	244
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(10,445)	(4,591)
Income tax expense	109	25
Net loss from continuing operations	(10,554)	(4,616)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(73)
Net loss	(10,554)	(4,689)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations	(106)	(53)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	0	6
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks	(10,448)	(4,642)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(10,448)	(4,563)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	(79)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (10,448)	$ (4,642)
Continuing operations, basic (USD per share)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.12)
Discontinued operations, basic (USD per share)	0	0
Basic net income (loss) per share (USD per share)	(0.27)	(0.12)
Continuing operations, diluted (USD per share)	(0.27)	(0.12)
Discontinued operations, diluted (USD per share)	0	0
Diluted net income (loss) per share (USD per share)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.12)
Shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share	38,502,000	38,229,000
Shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share	38,502,000	38,229,000