Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Ordinary Shares	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Balance as of at Apr. 27, 2012	$ 17,113	$ 104	$ 17,482	$ (473)
Balance (shares) as of at Apr. 27, 2012		1,037,000,000
Net income	3,467		3,467
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(19)			(19)
Dividends to shareholders	(1,055)		(1,055)
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans, shares		10,000,000
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans	267	$ 1	266
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(1,247)	$ (3)	(1,244)
Repurchase of ordinary shares, shares		(31,000,000)
Tax benefit (deficit) from exercise of stock-based awards	(7)		(7)
Stock-based compensation	152		152
Balance as of at Apr. 26, 2013	18,671	$ 102	19,061	(492)
Balance (shares) as of at Apr. 26, 2013		1,016,000,000
Net income	3,065		3,065
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(105)			(105)
Dividends to shareholders	(1,116)		(1,116)
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans, shares		31,000,000
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans	1,307	$ 3	1,304
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(2,553)	$ (5)	(2,548)
Repurchase of ordinary shares, shares		(48,000,000)
Tax benefit (deficit) from exercise of stock-based awards	29		29
Stock-based compensation	145		145
Balance as of at Apr. 25, 2014	$ 19,443	$ 100	19,940	(597)
Balance (shares) as of at Apr. 25, 2014	998,999,125	999,000,000
Net income	$ 2,675		2,675
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(587)			(587)
Ordinary shares issued in connection with the Covidien plc acquisition, net of taxes	33,787		33,787
Ordinary shares issued in connection with the Covidien acquisition, net of taxes, shares		436,000,000
Result of contribution of Medtronic, Inc. to Medtronic plc	0	$ (99)	99
Dividends to shareholders	(1,337)		(1,337)
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans, shares		17,000,000
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans	649	$ 2	647
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(1,920)	$ (3)	(1,917)
Repurchase of ordinary shares, shares		(30,000,000)
Tax benefit (deficit) from exercise of stock-based awards	81		81
Stock-based compensation	439		439
Balance as of at Apr. 24, 2015	$ 53,230	$ 0	$ 54,414	$ (1,184)
Balance (shares) as of at Apr. 24, 2015	1,421,648,005	1,422,000,000