Commitments and Contingencies	6 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Jul. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Litigation On June 4, 2020, purported Pivotal stockholder Kenia Lopez filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court against Dell, VMware, Michael Dell, Robert Mee and Cynthia Gaylor. The claims include breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting, all tied to VMware’s acquisition of Pivotal. On July 16, 2020, purported Pivotal stockholder Stephanie Howarth filed a similar lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court against the same defendants asserting the same types of claims. These matters have been consolidated and are in the early stages of litigation. The Company is unable at this time to assess whether or to what extent it may be found liable and, if found liable, what the damages may be, and believes a loss is not probable and reasonably estimable. The Company intends to vigorously defend against these securities class actions. On April 25, 2019, Cirba Inc. (“Cirba”) filed a lawsuit against VMware in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), alleging two patent infringement claims and three trademark infringement-related claims. On May 6, 2019, Cirba filed a motion seeking a preliminary injunction tied to one of the two patents it alleges VMware infringes. Following a hearing on August 6, 2019, the Delaware Court denied Cirba’s preliminary injunction motion and set the case for trial in mid-January 2020. On August 20, 2019, VMware filed counterclaims against Cirba, asserting among other claims that Cirba is infringing four VMware patents. The Delaware Court severed those claims from the January 2020 trial on Cirba’s claims, and the trial on VMware’s patent claims is currently set for September 2021. The trial on Cirba’s claims in the Delaware Court was completed on January 23, 2020, and on January 24, 2020, the jury returned a verdict finding that VMware willfully infringed the two asserted patents and awarding approximately $237 million in damages. The jury further found that VMware was not liable on Cirba’s trademark infringement-related claims. A total of $237 million has been accrued for the Delaware action, which reflects the estimated losses that are considered both probable and reasonably estimable at this time. The parties filed post-trial motions in which VMware moved to set aside the verdict and reduce the damages award, and Cirba moved for a permanent injunction, enhanced damages, set an ongoing royalty rate, and for an award of pre-judgment and post-judgment interest and supplemental damages. The parties held a hearing with the Delaware Court on those motions on May 15, 2020, and the Delaware Court has taken those motions under advisement. The Company intends to vigorously defend itself in this matter, including, if necessary, via an appeal. Final resolution of this matter could be materially different from the amount accrued. The amount accrued for this matter is included in accrued expenses and other on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of July 31, 2020 and January 31, 2020, and the charge was included in general and administrative on the condensed consolidated statement of income for the year ended January 31, 2020. On October 22, 2019, VMware filed a separate patent infringement lawsuit against Cirba in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, asserting that Cirba infringes an additional four patents. The court in that action transferred the case to the District of Delaware. On March 23, 2020, Cirba filed a counterclaim asserting one additional patent against VMware. Overall, the Company is unable at this time to assess whether or to what extent it may be found liable on the new patent claim and, if found liable, what the damages may be, and believes a loss is not probable and reasonably estimable. The Company intends to vigorously defend against this matter. On August 10, 2015, the Company received a subpoena from the California Attorney General’s office (“California AG”), following the Company’s settlement with the Department of Justice and the General Services Administration during June 2015. In this matter, the California AG is investigating the accuracy of the Company’s sales practices with departments and agencies within the State of California. The Company has held meetings with the California AG’s representatives, and discussions are ongoing. The Company is unable at this time to assess whether or to what extent it may be found liable and, if found liable, what the damages may be, and believes a material loss is not probable and reasonably estimable. The Company intends to vigorously defend against this matter. In December 2019, the staff of the Enforcement Division of the SEC requested documents and information related to VMware’s backlog and associated accounting and disclosures. VMware is fully cooperating with the SEC’s investigation and is unable to predict the outcome of this matter at this time. While VMware believes that it has valid defenses against each of the above legal matters, given the unpredictable nature of legal proceedings, an unfavorable resolution of one or more legal proceedings, claims, or investigations could have a material adverse effect on VMware’s condensed consolidated financial statements. VMware accrues for a liability when a determination has been made that a loss is both probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If only a range can be estimated and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other amount, an accrual is recorded for the minimum amount in the range. Significant judgment is required in both the determination that the occurrence of a loss is probable and is reasonably estimable. In making such judgments, VMware considers the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel and other information and events pertaining to a particular matter. Legal costs are generally recognized as expense when incurred. VMware is also subject to other legal, administrative and regulatory proceedings, claims, demands and investigations in the ordinary course of business or in connection with business mergers and acquisitions, including claims with respect to commercial, contracting and sales practices, product liability, intellectual property, employment, corporate and securities law, class action, whistleblower and other matters. From time to time, VMware also receives inquiries from and has discussions with government entities and stockholders on various matters. As of July 31, 2020, other than the Cirba litigation, amounts accrued relating to these other matters arising as part of the ordinary course of business were considered not material. VMware does not believe that any liability from any reasonably possible disposition of such claims and litigation, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements. Contractual Commitments From time to time, VMware enters into arrangements with minimum purchase commitments in the ordinary course of business. New material purchase commitments in fiscal 2021 have totaled $1.2 billion. Minimum payments under these new commitments as of July 31, 2020 are $250 million for fiscal 2022, $250 million for fiscal 2023 and $700 million prior to the end of fiscal 2024.