Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Nov. 09, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	NETWORK 1 TECHNOLOGIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001065078
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		24,033,076
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes