Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands										3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 11, 2024	Jun. 10, 2024	Apr. 16, 2024	Mar. 12, 2024	Dec. 12, 2023	Oct. 10, 2023	Jul. 28, 2023	May 24, 2023	Mar. 08, 2023	Jul. 27, 2024	Apr. 27, 2024	Jun. 05, 2024	Apr. 29, 2023	Jun. 07, 2022	Apr. 30, 2022
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Long-Term Debt											$ 196,337		$ 182,151
Common Stock, Shares Authorized											200,000,000	10,000,000,000	200,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued											558,000		551,000		54,234,000
Rights Offering Bonus Element		5.03
Term Loan
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Description							On July 28, 2023, we amended our Term Loan to (i) extend the maturity date of the Term Loan Agreement to April 7, 2025, (ii) allow for interest to be paid in kind until September 2, 2024, (iii) amend the 1.50% anniversary fee to recur on June 7 of each year that the Term Loan Agreement remains outstanding, with 2024 fee deferred to the earlier of September 2, 2024 and the Termination Date (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) and (iv) amend certain negative covenants and affirmative and add certain additional covenants. We must pay a fee of $50 to the lenders under the Term Loan Agreement on the earlier of September 2, 2024 and the Termination Date (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement). For additional information, see the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2023.During the 52 weeks ended April 27, 2024, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $499 related to the July 2023 Term Loan Credit Agreement amendment. The debt issuance costs have been deferred and are presented as a reduction to long-term borrowings in the consolidated balance sheets, and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the Term Loan Facility.		On March 8, 2023, we amended the Term Loan Credit Agreement to (i) extend the maturity date of the Term Loan Credit Agreement by six months to December 7, 2024, (ii) permit the application of certain proceeds to the repayment of the loans under Credit Agreement and (iii) amend certain negative covenants and add certain additional covenants to conform to the Credit Agreement. In addition, the amendment requires the achievement of a Specified Event (as described above) by no later than May 31, 2023 (as such date may be extended under the Credit Agreement, but no later than August 31, 2023 without consent from lenders under the Term Loan Credit Agreement). For additional information, see the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated March 8, 2023 and filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023.During the 52 weeks ended April 29, 2023, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $431 related to the March 2023 Term Loan Credit Agreement amendment. We paid a fee of $50 on the amendment closing date to the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Agreement. The debt issuance costs have been deferred and are presented as a reduction to long-term borrowings in the consolidated balance sheets, and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the Term Loan Facility.		The Term Loans accrue interest at a rate equal to 11.25%, payable quarterly. All interest on the Term Loan prior to July 29, 2023 was paid in cash. Subsequent to July 29, 2023, all interest incurred on the Term Loan was incurred in kind as permitted under the July 2023 Term Loan Amendment and is part of the outstanding debt balance. The Term Loans do not amortize prior to maturity. The Term Loan Credit Agreement does not contain a financial covenant, but otherwise contains representations and warranties, covenants and events of default that are substantially the same as those in the Credit Agreement, including restrictions on the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur additional debt, incur or permit liens on assets, make investments and acquisitions, consolidate or merge with any other company, engage in asset sales and make dividends and distributions. The Term Loan Facility is secured by second-priority liens on all assets securing the obligations under the Credit Agreement, which is all of the assets of the Company and the Guarantors, subject to customary exclusions and limitations set forth in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the other loan documents executed in connection therewith.The Credit Agreement amendment permitted us to incur the Term Loan Facility and also provides that, upon repayment of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (and, if applicable, any replacement credit facility thereof), we may incur second lien secured debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $75,000.
Long-Term Debt		$ 34									$ 30,000		$ 32,652	$ 30,000
New Credit Facility
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Description			April 2024 Credit Agreement AmendmentOn April 16, 2024, we amended our existing Credit Agreement to, among other things, revise certain milestones related to the previously-disclosed liquidity and refinancing contingency plans to align such milestones with the Transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (as defined in Note 17. Subsequent Events) (the “Twelfth Amendment to Credit Agreement”), which milestones include (i) filing the Form S-1 no later than two (2) business days after the date of such amendment, (ii) obtaining receipt of support letters in support of the Transactions from persons owning not less than 20% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company by no later than May 3, 2024 (or such later date as agreed to in writing by the administrative agent in its sole discretion), (iii) obtaining receipt of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) approval with respect to such Form S-1 on or before May 24, 2024 (or such later date as agreed to in writing by the administrative agent in its sole discretion) and (iv) closing the Transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement on or before the date that is 25 days after the receipt of SEC approval with respect to the Form S-1. During the 52 weeks ended April 27, 2024, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $851 related to the April 2024 Credit Agreement amendment.	March 2024 Credit Agreement AmendmentOn March 12, 2024, we amended our existing Credit Agreement to, among other things, (i) revise certain reporting requirements under the Credit Agreement and (ii) set certain milestones for liquidity and refinancing contingency plans, with respect to which we must execute a binding commitment no later than April 3, 2024 (as may be extended by the administrative agent to April 10, 2024). During the 52 weeks ended April 27, 2024, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $1,929 related to the March 2024 Credit Agreement amendment.	December 2023 Credit Agreement AmendmentOn December 12, 2023, we amended our existing Credit Agreement to, among other things: (i) amend the financial maintenance covenant to require Availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) at all times to be greater than the greater of (x) 10% of the Aggregate Loan Cap (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and (y) (A) $32,500 or, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions relating to the repayment of the Credit Agreement in full, (B) (a) $20,000 for the period of December 8, 2023 through January 12, 2024, (b) $25,000 for the period from January 26, 2024 through February 9, 2024, (c) $25,000 for the period of April 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024 and (d) $30,000 for the period of May 1, 2024 through May 31, 2024, and (ii) revise certain reporting requirements under the Credit Agreement. The amendment also revised the Specified Liquidity Transaction Fee introduced in the October 2023 Credit Agreement Amendment such that the $3,800 became due and was paid on January 31, 2024. During the 52 weeks ended April 27, 2024, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $4,047 related to the December 2023 Credit Agreement amendment. The debt issuance costs have been deferred and are presented as prepaid and other current assets and other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets, and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the Credit Agreement. For additional information related to the Credit Agreement amendment, see the Company’s Report on Form 8-K dated December 12, 2023 and filed with the SEC on December 13, 2023.	October 2023 Credit Agreement AmendmentOn October 10, 2023, we amended our existing Credit Agreement to revise certain reporting requirements to the administrative agent and lenders under the Credit Agreement. The amendment introduced a Specified Liquidity Transaction Fee of $3,800 that would become due and payable at the earlier to occur of (a) January 31, 2024, to the extent a Specified Liquidity Transaction (as defined in the Credit Agreement) has not been consummated prior to such date (or such later date that is up to thirty days thereafter to the extent agreed to in writing by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) or (b) an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement. During the 52 weeks ended April 27, 2024, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $1,428 related to the October 2023 Credit Agreement amendment. The debt issuance costs have been deferred and are presented as prepaid and other current assets and other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets, and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the Credit Agreement.	July 2023 Credit Agreement AmendmentOn July 28, 2023, we amended our existing Credit Agreement to (i) extend the maturity date of the Credit Agreement to December 28, 2024, (ii) reduce advance rates with respect to the borrowing base by 1000 basis points on September 2, 2024 (in lieu of the reductions previously contemplated for September 2023), (iii) subject to the conditions set forth in such amendment, add a CARES Act tax refund claim to the borrowing base, from April 1, 2024 through July 31, 2024, (iv) amend the financial maintenance covenant to require Availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) at all times greater than the greater of (x) 10% of the Aggregate Loan Cap (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and (y) (A) $32,500 minus, subject to the conditions set forth in such amendment, (B) (a) $7,500 for the period of April 1, 2024 through and including April 30, 2024, (b) $2,500 for the period of May 1, 2024 through and including May 31, 2024 and (c) $0 at all other times, (v) add a minimum Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) financial maintenance covenant, and (vi) amend certain negative and affirmative covenants and add certain additional covenants, all as more particularly set forth in such amendment. The amendment also requires that we appoint a Chief Restructuring Officer and that, by August 11, 2023, we (i) appoint two independent members to the board of directors of the Company from prospective candidates that have been previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (ii) appoint a committee of the board of directors of the Company to consist of three board members (two of whom will be the new independent directors). The committee’s responsibilities will include, among other things, to explore, consider, solicit expressions of interest or proposals for, respond to any communications, inquiries or proposals regarding, and advise as to all strategic alternatives to effect a “Specified Liquidity Transaction” (as defined in the Credit Agreement). There can be no guarantee or assurances that any such transaction or transactions be consummated. We must pay (i) a fee of 0.50% of the outstanding principal amount of the commitments under the Credit Agreement March 2023 amendment (as defined in the Credit Agreement) on the closing date (in lieu of the deferred fee previously contemplated in connection with the March 2023 amendment (as defined in the Credit Agreement)) and (ii) a fee of 1.00% of the outstanding principal amount of the commitments under the Credit Agreement as of the closing date on the earlier to occur of September 2, 2024 and an Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement). For additional information related to the Credit Agreement amendment, see the Company's Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 28, 2023.During the 52 weeks ended April 27, 2024, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $11,516 related to the July 2023 Credit Agreement amendment. The debt issuance costs have been deferred and are presented as prepaid and other current assets and other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets, and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the Credit Agreement.	May 2023 Credit Agreement AmendmentOn May 24, 2023, we amended our existing Credit Agreement to (i) increase the applicable margin with respect to the interest rate under the Credit Agreement to 3.75% per annum, in the case of interest accruing based on SOFR, and 2.75%, in the case of interest accruing based on an alternative base rate, in each case, without regard to a pricing grid, (ii) defer the reduction of advance rates used to calculate our borrowing capacity by an amount equal to 500 basis points previously required on May 31, 2023 to September 1, 2023, (iii) require cash flow reporting and variance testing commencing June 3, 2023 and (iv) defer partial prepayment of the term loan from the DSS segment sale proceeds to September 1, 2023. We did not incur debt issuance costs related to the May 2023 Credit Agreement amendment. For additional information related to the Credit Agreement amendment, see the Company’s Report on Form 8-K dated May 24, 2023 and filed with the SEC on May 31, 2023.	March 2023 Credit Agreement AmendmentOn March 8, 2023, we amended our existing Credit Agreement to (i) extend the maturity date of the Credit Agreement by six months to August 29, 2024, (ii) reduce the commitments under the Credit Agreement by $20,000 to $380,000, (iii) increase the applicable margin with respect to the interest rate under the Credit Agreement to 3.375% per annum, in the case of interest accruing based on a Secured Overnight Financing Rate, and 2.375%, in the case of interest accruing based on an alternative base rate, in each case, without regard to a pricing grid, (iv) reduce advance rates with respect to the borrowing base (x) by 500 basis points upon the achievement of certain liquidity events, which may include a sale of equity interests or of assets (a “Specified Event”), or, if such a Specified Event shall not have occurred, no later than May 31, 2023 (see discussion below) and (y) by an additional 500 basis points on September 29, 2023, (v) amend certain negative covenants and add certain additional covenants, (vi) amend the financial maintenance covenant to require Availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) to be at all times greater than the greater of 10% of the Aggregate Loan Cap (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and $32,500 and (vii) require repayment of the loans under the Credit Agreement upon a Specified Event. For additional information related to the Credit Agreement amendment, see the Company’s Report on Form 8-K dated March 8, 2023 and filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023. As noted above, the amendment required the achievement of a Special Event by no later than May 31, 2023 (as such date may be extended pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement). See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for information related to the sale of our DSS segment on May 31, 2023. We paid a fee of 0.25% of the outstanding principal amount of the commitments under the Credit Agreement on the amendment closing date and we will pay an additional fee of 1.00% of the outstanding principal amount of the commitments under the Credit Agreement on September 29, 2023 (see July 2023 Credit Agreement Amendment below for the change in payment terms)During the 52 weeks ended April 29, 2023, we incurred debt issuance costs totaling $4,081 related to the March 2023 Credit Agreement amendment. The debt issuance costs have been deferred and are presented as prepaid and other current assets and other noncurrent assets in the consolidated balance sheets, and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the Credit Agreement.
Credit facility, borrowing capacity		$ 325									$ 400,000
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity										$ 95
Stockholders' Equity, Reverse Stock Split	Reverse Stock SplitOn June 11, 2024, we completed a reverse stock split of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock at a ratio of 1-for-100 (the “Reverse Stock Split”), which was previously approved by stockholders at a special meeting held on June 5, 2024. In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, every 100 shares of the common stock issued and outstanding was converted into one share of the Company’s common stock. No change will be made to the trading symbol for the Company’s shares of Common Stock, “BNED,” in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. The Reverse Stock Split is part of the Company’s plan to regain compliance with the minimum bid price requirement of $1.00 per share required to maintain continued listing on the NYSE.The Reverse Stock Split reduced the number of shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock from approximately 2,620,495,552 shares (as of the date June 11, 2024, when including issuances pursuant to the Transactions) to approximately 26,204,956 shares, subject to adjustment for rounding.The Reverse Stock Split affected all issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. All outstanding options and restricted stock units, and other securities entitling their holders to purchase or otherwise receive shares of Common Stock were adjusted as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, as required by the terms of each security. The number of shares available to be awarded under the Company’s equity compensation plans will also be appropriately adjusted. Following the Reverse Stock Split, the par value of the Common Stock will remain unchanged at $0.01 per share. The Reverse Stock Split will not change the authorized number of shares of Common Stock or preferred stock. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the reverse split; instead any fractional shares as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be rounded up to the next whole number of post-split shares of Common Stock
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity, Net of Expenses										80
Rights Offering Bonus Element		5.03
Subsequent Event | Rights Offering
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity										45
Common Stock, Shares, Issued		900,000,000
Subsequent Event | Rights Offering | Subscribers
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity										32,100
Sale of Stock, Description of Transaction		Through the Rights Offering, we issued 900,000,000 shares of our common stock at a cash subscription price (the “Subscription Price”) of $0.05 per share. In the Rights Offering, we distributed to each holder of Common Stock, one non-transferable subscription right (each, a “Subscription Right”) for every share of Common Stock owned by such holder on May 14, 2024 (the “Record Date”), and each Subscription Right entitled the holder to purchase 17 shares of Common Stock. Each holder that fully exercised their Subscription Rights was entitled to Over-Subscription Rights to subscribe for additional shares of Common Stock that remain unsubscribed as a result of any unexercised Subscription Rights, which allowed such holder to subscribe for additional shares of Common Stock up to the number of shares purchased under such holder’s basic Subscription Right at $0.05 per share. We received approximately $32,100 in gross proceeds from the exercise of Subscriptions Rights and Over-Subscription Rights from the Company's stockholders.
Subsequent Event | Rights Offering | Backstop Commitment
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity										12,900
Sale of Stock, Description of Transaction		For those Subscription Rights which remained unexercised, upon the expiration of the Rights Offering after accounting for all Over-Subscription Rights exercised, the standby purchasers, led by Immersion, Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC (“Outerbridge”) and Selz Family 2011 Trust (“Selz”), collectively purchased the unexercised Subscription Rights at the Subscription Price (“Backstop Commitment”). We received approximately $12,900 in gross proceeds for the exercise of Subscription Rights not subscribed for by the Company’s stockholders. We paid Immersion and Selz approximately $2,850 and $350, respectively, comprised of commitment fees in consideration for the Backstop Commitment, and expense reimbursements for all out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions and we paid Outerbridge approximately $1,250 for expense reimbursements for all out-of-pocket costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions. The Rights Offering was offered to all existing stockholders at an exercise price that was less than the fair value of our Common Stock, as of such time, the weighted average shares outstanding and basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share were adjusted retroactively to reflect the bonus element of the rights offering for all periods presented by a factor of 5.03.
Subsequent Event | Private Investment Equity
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity										50
Sale of Stock, Description of Transaction		Immersion and VitalSource purchased approximately $45,000 and $5,000, respectively, in shares of our Common Stock, at the Subscription Price, defined below, in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and separate from the Rights Offering (the “Private Investment”). The Private Investment is in addition to shares of Common Stock purchased by Immersion pursuant to the Backstop Commitment discussed below.
Subsequent Event | Private Investment Equity | Immersion
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity										45
Subsequent Event | Private Investment Equity | VitalSource
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from Issuance or Sale of Equity										$ 5
Subsequent Event | New Credit Facility
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Long-term Debt, Description		On June 10, 2024 (the “Closing Date”), we amended and restated and extended the maturity of our existing asset-based Credit Facility with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, collateral agent and swing line lender, and other lenders from time to time party thereto (such amended and restated credit facility, the “Restated ABL Facility”). Pursuant to the Restated ABL Facility, the lenders thereunder have committed to provide a four-year asset-backed revolving credit facility in an aggregate committed principal amount of up to $325,000. The Restated ABL Facility has a maturity date of June 9, 2028.Interest under the Restated ABL Facility accrues, at the election of the Company, either (x) based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is subject to a floor of 2.50% per annum, plus a spread of 3.50% per annum or (y) at an alternate base rate, which is subject to a floor of 3.50% per annum, plus a spread of 2.50% per annum, provided that, in the event the Company meets certain financial metrics for a consecutive six-month period beginning and ending after the one-year anniversary of the Closing Date, the foregoing spreads shall be reduced by 0.25% per annum.The Credit Agreement contains customary negative covenants that limit the Company’s ability to incur or assume additional indebtedness, grant or permit liens, make investments, make restricted payments and other specified payments, merge with other entities, dispose of or acquire assets, or engage in transactions with affiliates, among other things. Additionally, the Restated ABL Facility includes the following financial maintenance covenants:         •following the date that is six months following the Closing Date, the Company is required to maintain a minimum Availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of (x) $25,000 for the first thirty (30) months after the Closing Date and (y) $30,000 after the date that is thirty (30) months after the Closing Date;         •commencing with the month ending May 31, 2025, the Company is required to maintain a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Restated ABL Facility) of not less than 1.10 to 1.00, which will be tested monthly on the last day of each fiscal month for the trailing 12-month period; and              •commencing with the quarter ending October 31, 2024, the Company is required to maintain a minimum Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the Restated ABL Facility), which will be tested quarterly on the last day of each fiscal quarter for (a) the trailing six-month period for the first test date, (b) the trailing nine-month period of the second test date and (c) for the trailing 12-month period thereafter.The Restated ABL Facility does not require the retention of a chief restructuring officer or the formation or maintenance of any special committees of the board of directors of the company.The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default, including for non-payment of obligations owing under the Restated ABL Facility, material breaches of representations and warranties, failure to perform or observe covenants, default on other material indebtedness, customary ERISA events of default, bankruptcy and insolvency, material judgments, invalidity of liens on collateral, change of control or cessation of business. The Credit Agreement also contains customary affirmative covenants and representations and warranties.In connection with the Restated ABL Facility, the 1.00% fee payable in connection with the eighth amendment to the Restated ABL Facility (prior to its having been restated) is due and payable (x) 50% on September 2, 2024 and (y) 50% on June 10, 2025.