Balance Sheet Details (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jul. 30, 2016	Jul. 25, 2015	Jul. 26, 2014
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 91	$ 114
Work in process	0	2
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	457	610
Manufactured finished goods	415	593
Total finished goods	872	1,203
Service-related spares	236	258
Demonstration systems	18	50
Total	1,217	1,627
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract]
Land Buildings Building Improvements And Leasehold Improvements	4,778	4,495
Property, Plant and Equipment, Other, Gross	1,288	1,310
Machinery and Equipment, Gross	5,658	5,753
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease, Gross	296	372
Furniture and Fixtures, Gross	543	497
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	12,563	12,427
Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment	(9,057)	(9,095)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	3,506	3,332	$ 3,252
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	16,472	15,183
Current	10,155	9,824
Noncurrent	6,317	5,359
Product:
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	5,851	5,426
Product: | Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other deferred revenue
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	5,474	4,766
Product: | Deferred revenue related to two-tier distributors
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	377	660
Service
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	$ 10,621	$ 9,757