Guarantor Financial Information - Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2019	Jul. 26, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Jul. 27, 2018	Oct. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 7,706,000,000		$ 7,481,000,000		$ 15,199,000,000	$ 14,865,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,394,000,000		2,203,000,000		4,760,000,000	4,407,000,000
Research and development expense	603,000,000		590,000,000		1,190,000,000	1,175,000,000
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,620,000,000		2,605,000,000		5,163,000,000	5,202,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	441,000,000		445,000,000		881,000,000	891,000,000
Restructuring charges, net	27,000,000		24,000,000		74,000,000	86,000,000
Certain litigation charges	121,000,000		0		168,000,000	103,000,000
Other operating expense (income), net	149,000,000		70,000,000		127,000,000	221,000,000
Operating profit (loss)	1,351,000,000		1,544,000,000		2,836,000,000	2,780,000,000
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(108,000,000)		(52,000,000)		(209,000,000)	(238,000,000)
Interest expense	165,000,000		241,000,000		774,000,000	483,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,294,000,000		1,355,000,000		2,271,000,000	2,535,000,000
Income tax provision	(77,000,000)		235,000,000		23,000,000	338,000,000
Net income (loss)	1,371,000,000	$ 877,000,000	1,120,000,000	$ 1,077,000,000	2,248,000,000	2,197,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(20,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,364,000,000		1,115,000,000		2,228,000,000	2,190,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(127,000,000)	$ 227,000,000	(292,000,000)	$ (584,000,000)	100,000,000	(876,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(20,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,237,000,000		826,000,000		2,328,000,000	1,317,000,000
Consolidating Adjustments | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(385,000,000)		(364,000,000)		(811,000,000)	(726,000,000)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	(310,000,000)		(239,000,000)		(621,000,000)	(476,000,000)
Research and development expense	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	0		0		0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0		0		0	0
Certain litigation charges	0				0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	(87,000,000)		(116,000,000)		(177,000,000)	(222,000,000)
Operating profit (loss)	12,000,000		(9,000,000)		(13,000,000)	(28,000,000)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	631,000,000		690,000,000		1,240,000,000	1,332,000,000
Interest expense	(631,000,000)		(690,000,000)		(1,240,000,000)	(1,332,000,000)
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	3,495,000,000		3,198,000,000		6,063,000,000	6,295,000,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(3,483,000,000)		(3,207,000,000)		(6,076,000,000)	(6,323,000,000)
Income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss)	(3,483,000,000)		(3,207,000,000)		(6,076,000,000)	(6,323,000,000)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	(3,483,000,000)		(3,207,000,000)		(6,076,000,000)	(6,323,000,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	395,000,000		790,000,000		12,000,000	2,486,000,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	(3,088,000,000)		(2,417,000,000)		(6,064,000,000)	(3,837,000,000)
Consolidating Adjustments | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	0		0		0	0
Research and development expense	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	0		0		0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0		0		0	0
Certain litigation charges	0				0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0		0		0	0
Operating profit (loss)	0		0		0	0
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	534,000,000		290,000,000		1,147,000,000	557,000,000
Interest expense	(534,000,000)		(290,000,000)		(1,147,000,000)	(557,000,000)
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	4,128,000,000		3,058,000,000		7,045,000,000	6,317,000,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,128,000,000)		(3,058,000,000)		(7,045,000,000)	(6,317,000,000)
Income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss)	(4,128,000,000)		(3,058,000,000)		(7,045,000,000)	(6,317,000,000)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	(4,128,000,000)		(3,058,000,000)		(7,045,000,000)	(6,317,000,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	402,000,000		672,000,000		(36,000,000)	1,881,000,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	(3,726,000,000)		(2,386,000,000)		(7,081,000,000)	(4,436,000,000)
Medtronic plc | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	0		0		0	0
Research and development expense	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	4,000,000		4,000,000		7,000,000	6,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0		0		0	0
Certain litigation charges	0				0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	13,000,000		24,000,000		26,000,000	25,000,000
Operating profit (loss)	(17,000,000)		(28,000,000)		(33,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	0		0		0	0
Interest expense	139,000,000		108,000,000		283,000,000	208,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,518,000,000)		(1,249,000,000)		(2,540,000,000)	(2,425,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,362,000,000		1,113,000,000		2,224,000,000	2,186,000,000
Income tax provision	(2,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Net income (loss)	1,364,000,000		1,115,000,000		2,228,000,000	2,190,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,364,000,000		1,115,000,000		2,228,000,000	2,190,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(127,000,000)		(289,000,000)		100,000,000	(873,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,237,000,000		826,000,000		2,328,000,000	1,317,000,000
Medtronic plc | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	0		0		0	0
Research and development expense	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	4,000,000		4,000,000		7,000,000	6,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0		0		0	0
Certain litigation charges	0				0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	13,000,000		24,000,000		26,000,000	25,000,000
Operating profit (loss)	(17,000,000)		(28,000,000)		(33,000,000)	(31,000,000)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	0		0		0	0
Interest expense	139,000,000		108,000,000		283,000,000	208,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,518,000,000)		(1,249,000,000)		(2,540,000,000)	(2,425,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,362,000,000		1,113,000,000		2,224,000,000	2,186,000,000
Income tax provision	(2,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(4,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Net income (loss)	1,364,000,000		1,115,000,000		2,228,000,000	2,190,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,364,000,000		1,115,000,000		2,228,000,000	2,190,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(127,000,000)		(289,000,000)		100,000,000	(873,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,237,000,000		826,000,000		2,328,000,000	1,317,000,000
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	385,000,000		364,000,000		811,000,000	726,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	350,000,000		280,000,000		676,000,000	553,000,000
Research and development expense	178,000,000		176,000,000		346,000,000	344,000,000
Selling, general, and administrative expense	431,000,000		413,000,000		809,000,000	781,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	3,000,000		2,000,000		6,000,000	4,000,000
Restructuring charges, net	7,000,000		1,000,000		9,000,000	11,000,000
Certain litigation charges	0				5,000,000	78,000,000
Other operating expense (income), net	(629,000,000)		(672,000,000)		(1,067,000,000)	(931,000,000)
Operating profit (loss)	45,000,000		164,000,000		27,000,000	(114,000,000)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(73,000,000)		(138,000,000)		(134,000,000)	(297,000,000)
Interest expense	345,000,000		482,000,000		1,056,000,000	946,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(581,000,000)		(762,000,000)		(1,192,000,000)	(1,568,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	354,000,000		582,000,000		297,000,000	805,000,000
Income tax provision	(30,000,000)		(15,000,000)		(159,000,000)	(119,000,000)
Net income (loss)	384,000,000		597,000,000		456,000,000	924,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	384,000,000		597,000,000		456,000,000	924,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(76,000,000)		(194,000,000)		(29,000,000)	(702,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	308,000,000		403,000,000		427,000,000	222,000,000
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	0		0		0	0
Research and development expense	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	0		0		0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0		0		0	0
Certain litigation charges	0				0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0		0		0	0
Operating profit (loss)	0		0		0	0
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(32,000,000)		(9,000,000)		(95,000,000)	(19,000,000)
Interest expense	191,000,000		22,000,000		412,000,000	43,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,220,000,000)		(629,000,000)		(2,188,000,000)	(1,602,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,061,000,000		616,000,000		1,871,000,000	1,578,000,000
Income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss)	1,061,000,000		616,000,000		1,871,000,000	1,578,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,061,000,000		616,000,000		1,871,000,000	1,578,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(95,000,000)		(91,000,000)		(11,000,000)	(132,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	966,000,000		525,000,000		1,860,000,000	1,446,000,000
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	0		0		0	0
Research and development expense	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	0		0		0	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0		0		0	0
Certain litigation charges	0				0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0		0		(7,000,000)	0
Operating profit (loss)	0		0		7,000,000	0
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(241,000,000)		(175,000,000)		(486,000,000)	(339,000,000)
Interest expense	119,000,000		113,000,000		284,000,000	216,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,396,000,000)		(1,187,000,000)		(2,331,000,000)	(2,302,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,518,000,000		1,249,000,000		2,540,000,000	2,425,000,000
Income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss)	1,518,000,000		1,249,000,000		2,540,000,000	2,425,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,518,000,000		1,249,000,000		2,540,000,000	2,425,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(127,000,000)		(289,000,000)		100,000,000	(873,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,391,000,000		960,000,000		2,640,000,000	1,552,000,000
Subsidiary Guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0		0		0	0
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	0		0		0	0
Research and development expense	0		0		0	0
Selling, general, and administrative expense	1,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000	1,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	0		0		0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0		0		0	0
Certain litigation charges	0				0	0
Other operating expense (income), net	0		0		(7,000,000)	0
Operating profit (loss)	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)		6,000,000	(1,000,000)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(248,000,000)		(183,000,000)		(501,000,000)	(352,000,000)
Interest expense	119,000,000		113,000,000		284,000,000	216,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,390,000,000)		(1,180,000,000)		(2,317,000,000)	(2,290,000,000)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,518,000,000		1,249,000,000		2,540,000,000	2,425,000,000
Income tax provision	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss)	1,518,000,000		1,249,000,000		2,540,000,000	2,425,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,518,000,000		1,249,000,000		2,540,000,000	2,425,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(127,000,000)		(289,000,000)		100,000,000	(873,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0		0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,391,000,000		960,000,000		2,640,000,000	1,552,000,000
Subsidiary Non-guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	7,706,000,000		7,481,000,000		15,199,000,000	14,865,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,354,000,000		2,162,000,000		4,705,000,000	4,330,000,000
Research and development expense	425,000,000		414,000,000		844,000,000	831,000,000
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,185,000,000		2,188,000,000		4,347,000,000	4,415,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	438,000,000		443,000,000		875,000,000	887,000,000
Restructuring charges, net	20,000,000		23,000,000		65,000,000	75,000,000
Certain litigation charges	121,000,000				163,000,000	25,000,000
Other operating expense (income), net	852,000,000		834,000,000		1,352,000,000	1,349,000,000
Operating profit (loss)	1,311,000,000		1,417,000,000		2,848,000,000	2,953,000,000
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(425,000,000)		(429,000,000)		(829,000,000)	(934,000,000)
Interest expense	193,000,000		228,000,000		391,000,000	445,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,543,000,000		1,618,000,000		3,286,000,000	3,442,000,000
Income tax provision	(45,000,000)		252,000,000		186,000,000	461,000,000
Net income (loss)	1,588,000,000		1,366,000,000		3,100,000,000	2,981,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(20,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,581,000,000		1,361,000,000		3,080,000,000	2,974,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(192,000,000)		(310,000,000)		(83,000,000)	(914,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(20,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,389,000,000		1,054,000,000		2,997,000,000	2,063,000,000
Subsidiary Non-guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	7,706,000,000		7,481,000,000		15,199,000,000	14,865,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,394,000,000		2,203,000,000		4,760,000,000	4,407,000,000
Research and development expense	603,000,000		590,000,000		1,190,000,000	1,175,000,000
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,615,000,000		2,600,000,000		5,155,000,000	5,195,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	441,000,000		445,000,000		881,000,000	891,000,000
Restructuring charges, net	27,000,000		24,000,000		74,000,000	86,000,000
Certain litigation charges	121,000,000				168,000,000	103,000,000
Other operating expense (income), net	136,000,000		46,000,000		108,000,000	196,000,000
Operating profit (loss)	1,369,000,000		1,573,000,000		2,863,000,000	2,812,000,000
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(362,000,000)		(150,000,000)		(760,000,000)	(424,000,000)
Interest expense	250,000,000		288,000,000		942,000,000	573,000,000
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	0		0		0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,481,000,000		1,435,000,000		2,681,000,000	2,663,000,000
Income tax provision	(75,000,000)		237,000,000		27,000,000	342,000,000
Net income (loss)	1,556,000,000		1,198,000,000		2,654,000,000	2,321,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(20,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,549,000,000		1,193,000,000		2,634,000,000	2,314,000,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(180,000,000)		(295,000,000)		(53,000,000)	(879,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,000,000)		(2,000,000)		(20,000,000)	(4,000,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	$ 1,369,000,000		$ 901,000,000		$ 2,581,000,000	$ 1,438,000,000