Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Jan. 24, 2020	Oct. 25, 2019	Jul. 26, 2019	Jan. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Jul. 27, 2018	Jan. 24, 2020	Jan. 25, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,717			$ 7,546			$ 22,916	$ 22,411
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,400			2,265			7,160	6,672
Research and development expense	573			561			1,763	1,736
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,587			2,596			7,750	7,798
Amortization of intangible assets	436			436			1,317	1,327
Restructuring charges, net	13			26			87	112
Certain litigation charges	108			63			276	166
Other operating (income) expense, net	(39)			57			88	278
Operating profit (loss)	1,639			1,542			4,475	4,322
Other non-operating income, net	(96)			(71)			(305)	(309)
Interest expense	156			243			930	726
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,579			1,370			3,850	3,905
Income tax provision	(340)			99			(317)	437
Net income (loss)	1,919	$ 1,371	$ 877	1,271	$ 1,120	$ 1,077	4,167	3,468
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)			(2)			(24)	(9)
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	$ 1,915			$ 1,269			$ 4,143	$ 3,459
Basic earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 1.43			$ 0.95			$ 3.09	$ 2.57
Diluted earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 1.42			$ 0.94			$ 3.07	$ 2.54
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,340.5			1,342.8			1,340.7	1,348.1
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,351.5			1,352.7			1,351.6	1,359.5