Guarantor Financial Information - Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
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) expense, net	(96)			(71)			(305)	(309)
Interest expense	156			243			930	726
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	0			0			0	0
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
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	65	$ (127)	$ 227	154	$ (292)	$ (584)	165	(722)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)			(2)			(24)	(6)
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,980			1,423			4,308	2,740
Consolidating Adjustments | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(344)			(281)			(1,155)	(1,007)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	(231)			(164)			(852)	(642)
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	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	(106)			(118)			(284)	(339)
Operating profit (loss)	(7)			1			(19)	(26)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	543			760			1,784	2,086
Interest expense	(543)			(760)			(1,784)	(2,086)
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	5,662			3,431			11,727	9,656
Income (loss) before income taxes	(5,669)			(3,430)			(11,746)	(9,682)
Income tax provision	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss)	(5,669)			(3,430)			(11,746)	(9,682)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	(5,669)			(3,430)			(11,746)	(9,682)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(141)			(331)			(129)	2,460
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	(5,810)			(3,761)			(11,875)	(7,222)
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	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	0			0			0	0
Operating profit (loss)	0			0			0	0
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	482			335			1,629	893
Interest expense	(482)			(335)			(1,629)	(893)
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	4,399			3,402			11,444	9,738
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,399)			(3,402)			(11,444)	(9,738)
Income tax provision	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss)	(4,399)			(3,402)			(11,444)	(9,738)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	(4,399)			(3,402)			(11,444)	(9,738)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(60)			(412)			(96)	1,151
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	(4,459)			(3,814)			(11,540)	(8,587)
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	3			2			9	8
Amortization of intangible assets	0			0			0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0			0			0	0
Certain litigation charges	0			0			0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	12			15			39	40
Operating profit (loss)	(15)			(17)			(48)	(48)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	0			0			0	0
Interest expense	66			125			350	333
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,994)			(1,410)			(4,535)	(3,835)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,913			1,268			4,137	3,454
Income tax provision	(2)			(1)			(6)	(5)
Net income (loss)	1,915			1,269			4,143	3,459
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,915			1,269			4,143	3,459
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	65			154			165	(719)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,980			1,423			4,308	2,740
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	3			2			9	8
Amortization of intangible assets	0			0			0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0			0			0	0
Certain litigation charges	0			0			0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	12			15			39	40
Operating profit (loss)	(15)			(17)			(48)	(48)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	0			0			0	0
Interest expense	66			125			350	333
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,994)			(1,410)			(4,535)	(3,835)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,913			1,268			4,137	3,454
Income tax provision	(2)			(1)			(6)	(5)
Net income (loss)	1,915			1,269			4,143	3,459
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,915			1,269			4,143	3,459
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	65			154			165	(719)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,980			1,423			4,308	2,740
Subsidiary Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	344			281			1,155	1,007
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	337			223			1,013	776
Research and development expense	154			152			500	496
Selling, general, and administrative expense	432			362			1,241	1,142
Amortization of intangible assets	6			2			12	6
Restructuring charges, net	3			3			13	14
Certain litigation charges	0			12			5	90
Other operating (income) expense, net	(569)			(827)			(1,637)	(1,759)
Operating profit (loss)	(19)			354			8	242
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(50)			(151)			(184)	(445)
Interest expense	316			501			1,372	1,444
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,707)			(678)			(2,899)	(2,176)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,422			682			1,719	1,419
Income tax provision	(40)			40			(199)	(79)
Net income (loss)	1,462			642			1,918	1,498
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,462			642			1,918	1,498
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	58			45			29	(965)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	1,520			687			1,947	533
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			1	1
Amortization of intangible assets	0			0			0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0			0			0	0
Certain litigation charges	0			0			0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	0			0			0	0
Operating profit (loss)	0			0			(1)	(1)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(27)			(9)			(122)	(29)
Interest expense	189			23			601	66
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(448)			(656)			(2,635)	(2,277)
Income (loss) before income taxes	286			642			2,155	2,239
Income tax provision	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss)	286			642			2,155	2,239
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	286			642			2,155	2,239
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(35)			104			(46)	287
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	251			746			2,109	2,526
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			1	0
Amortization of intangible assets	0			0			0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0			0			0	0
Certain litigation charges	0			0			0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	0			0			(7)	0
Operating profit (loss)	0			0			6	0
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(174)			(200)			(660)	(539)
Interest expense	141			133			424	349
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,961)			(1,343)			(4,293)	(3,645)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,994			1,410			4,535	3,835
Income tax provision	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss)	1,994			1,410			4,535	3,835
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,994			1,410			4,535	3,835
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	65			154			165	(719)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	2,059			1,564			4,700	3,116
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			1			2	2
Amortization of intangible assets	0			0			0	0
Restructuring charges, net	0			0			0	0
Certain litigation charges	0			0			0	0
Other operating (income) expense, net	0			0			(7)	0
Operating profit (loss)	(1)			(1)			5	(2)
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(179)			(207)			(680)	(559)
Interest expense	141			132			424	348
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	(1,957)			(1,336)			(4,274)	(3,626)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,994			1,410			4,535	3,835
Income tax provision	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss)	1,994			1,410			4,535	3,835
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	1,994			1,410			4,535	3,835
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	65			154			165	(719)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0			0			0	0
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	2,059			1,564			4,700	3,116
Subsidiary Non-guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | Medtronic Senior Notes and Medtronic Luxco Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	7,717			7,546			22,916	22,411
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,294			2,206			6,999	6,538
Research and development expense	419			409			1,263	1,240
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,152			2,232			6,499	6,648
Amortization of intangible assets	430			434			1,305	1,321
Restructuring charges, net	10			23			74	98
Certain litigation charges	108			51			271	76
Other operating (income) expense, net	624			987			1,977	2,336
Operating profit (loss)	1,680			1,204			4,528	4,154
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(415)			(480)			(1,245)	(1,411)
Interest expense	176			244			568	686
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	0			0			0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,919			1,440			5,205	4,879
Income tax provision	(298)			60			(112)	521
Net income (loss)	2,217			1,380			5,317	4,358
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)			(2)			(24)	(9)
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	2,213			1,378			5,293	4,349
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	18			132			(65)	(779)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)			(2)			(24)	(6)
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	2,231			1,510			5,228	3,573
Subsidiary Non-guarantors | Reportable Legal Entities | CIFSA Senior Notes
Condensed Statement of Income Captions [Line Items]
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	2,583			2,593			7,738	7,787
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	(51)			42			56	238
Operating profit (loss)	1,655			1,560			4,519	4,373
Other non-operating (income) expense, net	(372)			(190)			(1,132)	(614)
Interest expense	242			298			1,184	872
Equity in net (income) loss of subsidiaries	0			0			0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,785			1,452			4,467	4,115
Income tax provision	(338)			100			(311)	442
Net income (loss)	2,123			1,352			4,778	3,673
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)			(2)			(24)	(9)
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	2,119			1,350			4,754	3,664
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	30			154			(23)	(722)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4)			(2)			(24)	(6)
Comprehensive income attributable to Medtronic	$ 2,149			$ 1,504			$ 4,731	$ 2,945