Acquisitions - Allocation of Purchase Price (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Intangible assets:
Goodwill	$ 13,840	$ 16,134	$ 14,424
VMware | AirWatch
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Current Assets		61
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets		250
Other current liabilities, net of current assets		(72)
Total purchase price		1,092
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Goodwill, Expected Tax Deductible Amount		868
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Other Noncurrent Assets		30
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets		1,209
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Noncurrent Liabilities, Deferred Revenue		(45)
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities		(117)
VMware | Nicira
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	335
Goodwill	893
Deferred tax liabilities, net	(77)
Income tax payable	(50)
Other current liabilities, net of current assets	(1)
Total purchase price	1,100
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Risk-free interest rate	0.30%
Purchased / Developed technology | VMware | AirWatch
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets		118
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		6 years
Purchased / Developed technology | VMware | Nicira
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	266
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	7 years
Tradename and trademark | VMware | AirWatch
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets		40
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		8 years
Tradename and trademark | VMware | Nicira
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	20
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life	10 years
In-process research and development | VMware | Nicira
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets	49
Customer relationships and customer lists | VMware | AirWatch
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets		78
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		8 years
Other | VMware | AirWatch
Intangible assets:
Intangible assets		$ 14
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life		3 years