Overview and Basis of Presentation (Schedule of Prior Period Reclassifications for Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		May 01, 2020	May 03, 2019
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue	[1],[2]	$ 2,734	$ 2,450	[3]
License
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue	[1],[2]	660	646	[3]
Operating expenses	[2],[4]	40	36	[3]
Subscription and SaaS
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue	[1],[2]	572	411	[3]
Operating expenses	[2],[4]	126	94	[3]
Services
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue	[1],[2]	1,502	1,393	[3]
Operating expenses	[2],[4]	$ 318	299	[3]
Previously Reported | License
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			869
Operating expenses			50
Previously Reported | Subscription and SaaS
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			0
Operating expenses			0
Previously Reported | Services
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			1,397
Operating expenses			302
Restatement Adjustment | License
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			(223)
Operating expenses			(14)
Restatement Adjustment | Subscription and SaaS
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			285
Operating expenses			69
Restatement Adjustment | Services
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			(62)
Operating expenses			(55)
Pivotal | License
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			0
Operating expenses			0
Pivotal | Subscription and SaaS
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			126
Operating expenses			25
Pivotal | Services
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Revenue			58
Operating expenses			$ 52

[1] (3) Includes related party revenue as follows (refer to Note C): License May 1, 2020: $323 million, May 3, 2019: $279 million, Subscription and SaaS May 1, 2020: $115 million, May 3, 2019: $72 million, Services May 1, 2020: $444 million, May 3, 2019: $326 million

[2] Effective the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, revenue and cost recognized from subscription and SaaS offerings is being presented separately (refer to Note A).

[3] Adjusted to reflect the recast of prior period information due to the Pivotal Software, Inc. (“Pivotal”) acquisition in fiscal 2020, which was accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control (refer to Note A).

[4] (4) Includes stock-based compensation as follows: Cost of subscription and SaaS revenue May 1, 2020: $4 million, May 3, 2019: $3 million, Cost of services revenue May 1, 2020: $22 million, May 3, 2019: $18 million, Research and development May 1, 2020 $125 million, May 3, 2019: $102 million, Sales and marketing May 1, 2020: $72 million, May 3, 2019: $63 million, General and administrative May 1, 2020: $49 million, May 3, 2019: $30 million