Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities - Schedule of Long Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 27, 2019	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Jan. 24, 2020
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Finance lease and other obligations		$ 347	$ 295
Unamortized premiums (discounts), net		21	(78)
Unamortized debt issuance costs		(220)	(237)
Total long-term debt		28,982	31,837
Less current maturities		(1,554)	(2,427)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		27,428	29,410
Term loan | Term Loan A
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		1,050
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Credit facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 200	150
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Credit facility | Revolving Credit Facility | LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)		2.00%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Term loan | Term Loan A
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 1,050	$ 1,108
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate		2.104%	2.147%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Term loan | Term Loan A | LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)		2.00%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Term loan | Term Loan A-1
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 300	$ 316
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate		2.104%	2.147%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Term loan | Term Loan A-1 | LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)		2.00%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Term loan | Term Loan B
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 4,900	$ 4,950
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate		2.354%	2.397%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Term loan | Term Loan B | LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)		2.25%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Senior notes | 4.000% Senior Secured Notes Due 2027
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		4.00%		4.00%
Long-term debt, gross		$ 1,250	$ 1,250
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes Maturing 2022-2042
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 8,414	8,645
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes Maturing 2022-2042 | Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		4.50%
Lumen Technologies, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes Maturing 2022-2042 | Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		7.65%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Term loan | Tranche B 2027 Term Loan
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 3,111	$ 3,111
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate		1.854%	1.897%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Term loan | Tranche B 2027 Term Loan | LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)	1.00%	1.75%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes, Maturing 2027-2029
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 1,500	$ 1,500
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes, Maturing 2027-2029 | Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		3.40%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes, Maturing 2027-2029 | Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		3.875%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes Maturing 2025-2029
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 5,515	5,515
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes Maturing 2025-2029 | Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		3.625%
Level 3 Financing, Inc. | Senior notes | Senior Notes Maturing 2025-2029 | Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		5.375%
Embarq Corporation subsidiaries | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		7.995%
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0	1,437
Embarq Corporation subsidiaries | First mortgage bonds
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 138	138
Embarq Corporation subsidiaries | First mortgage bonds | Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		7.125%
Embarq Corporation subsidiaries | First mortgage bonds | Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		8.375%
Qwest Corporation | Term loan
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 215	$ 215
Long-term debt, weighted average interest rate		2.11%	2.15%
Qwest Corporation | Term loan | LIBOR
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Basis spread (as a percent)		2.00%
Qwest Corporation | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 1,986	$ 3,170
Qwest Corporation | Senior notes | Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		6.50%
Qwest Corporation | Senior notes | Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		7.75%
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. | Senior notes
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Long-term debt, gross		$ 255	$ 352
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. | Senior notes | Minimum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		6.875%
Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. | Senior notes | Maximum
Long-term Debt and Credit Facilities
Stated interest rate		7.75%