Derivative instruments and hedging activities - Notional amounts and fair values of derivatives (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		Oct. 28, 2017	Jan. 28, 2017	Oct. 29, 2016
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount	[1]	$ 592	$ 789	$ 244
Fair Value, Assets	[1]	1	8	7
Notional Amount, Liabilities	[1]	81	226	268
Fair Value, Liabilities	[1]	(4)	(2)	(5)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		85	229	194
Fair Value, Assets		1	7	7
Other assets
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		507	560	50
Fair Value, Assets		0	1	0
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Notional Amount, Liabilities		81	226	268
Fair Value, Liabilities		(4)	(2)	(5)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		33	229	194
Fair Value, Assets		1	7	7
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Notional Amount, Liabilities		81	226	268
Fair Value, Liabilities		(4)	(2)	(5)
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		52	0	0
Fair Value, Assets		0	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Other assets
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		0	560	50
Fair Value, Assets		0	1	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Other assets
Derivative instruments and hedging activities [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		507	0	0
Fair Value, Assets		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Refer to Note 5 entitled “Fair value measurements” for the classification of our derivative instruments within the fair value hierarchy.