Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Ordinary Shares [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Balance (shares) at Apr. 26, 2013		1,016,000,000
Balance at Apr. 26, 2013	$ 18,671	$ 102	$ 19,061	$ (492)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	3,065		3,065
Other comprehensive 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 (shares)		(48,000,000)
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(2,553)	$ (5)	(2,548)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock-based awards	29		29
Stock-based compensation	145		145
Balance (shares) at Apr. 25, 2014		999,000,000
Balance at Apr. 25, 2014	19,443	$ 100	19,940	(597)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	2,675		2,675
Other comprehensive loss	(587)			(587)
Ordinary shares issued in connection with the Covidien plc acquisition, net of taxes (shares)		436,000,000
Ordinary shares issued in connection with the Covidien plc acquisition, net of taxes	33,787		33,787
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 (shares)		(30,000,000)
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(1,920)	$ (3)	(1,917)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock-based awards	81		81
Stock-based compensation	$ 439		439
Balance (shares) at Apr. 24, 2015	1,421,648,005	1,422,000,000
Balance at Apr. 24, 2015	$ 53,230	$ 0	54,414	(1,184)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	3,538		3,538
Other comprehensive loss	(684)			(684)
Dividends to shareholders	(2,139)		(2,139)
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans (shares)		15,000,000
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans	491	$ 0	491
Repurchase of ordinary shares (shares)		(38,000,000)
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(2,830)	$ 0	(2,830)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock-based awards	82		82
Stock-based compensation	$ 375		375
Balance (shares) at Apr. 29, 2016	1,399,018,022	1,399,000,000
Balance at Apr. 29, 2016	$ 52,063	$ 0	$ 53,931	$ (1,868)