Guarantor Financial Information - Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 27, 2017	Jan. 29, 2016
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	$ 5,107	$ 3,892
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,328)	(1,132)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(924)	(693)
Purchases of investments	(3,354)	(4,509)
Sales and maturities of investments	4,286	4,017
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	0	0
Intercompany dividend received	0
Capital contribution paid	0	0
Other investing activities, net	21	(11)
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,299)	(2,328)
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	(58)	(21)
Change in current debt obligations, net	1,118	1,223
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	(2)	(48)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	4	139
Issuance of long-term debt	131	0
Payments on long-term debt	(361)	(1,612)
Dividends to shareholders	(1,782)	(1,608)
Issuance of ordinary shares	309	360
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(3,409)	(2,170)
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	0	0
Intercompany dividend paid	0	0
Capital contribution received	0	0
Other financing activities	80	60
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,970)	(3,677)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	54	(9)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(108)	(2,122)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,876	4,843
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,768	2,721
Consolidating Adjustments [Member] | Medtronic Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	(8)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	162	0
Sales and maturities of investments	(162)	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	5,437	4,058
Capital contribution paid	241	1,500
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	5,678	5,558
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	0	0
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	(5,437)	(4,058)
Intercompany dividend paid		8
Capital contribution received	(241)	(1,500)
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(5,678)	(5,550)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments [Member] | CIFSA Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	0	(3,050)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	(1,831)	(3,689)
Intercompany dividend received	(920)
Capital contribution paid	537	2,070
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,214)	(1,619)
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	0	0
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	1,831	3,689
Intercompany dividend paid	920	3,050
Capital contribution received	(537)	(2,070)
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	2,214	4,669
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Parent Company Guarantor (Medtronic plc) [Member] | Medtronic Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	834	(15)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	0	0
Capital contribution paid	0	0
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	0	0
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Dividends to shareholders	(1,782)	(1,608)
Issuance of ordinary shares	309	360
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(3,409)	(2,170)
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	4,048	3,110
Intercompany dividend paid		0
Capital contribution received	0	0
Other financing activities	0	60
Net cash used in financing activities	(834)	(248)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	(263)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	263
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Parent Company Guarantor (Medtronic plc) [Member] | CIFSA Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	834	(15)
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	0	0
Intercompany dividend received	0
Capital contribution paid	0	0
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	0	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Dividends to shareholders	(1,782)	(1,608)
Issuance of ordinary shares	309	360
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(3,409)	(2,170)
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	4,048	3,110
Intercompany dividend paid	0	0
Capital contribution received	0	0
Other financing activities	0	60
Net cash used in financing activities	(834)	(248)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	(263)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	263
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	0
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | Medtronic Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	933	839
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(940)	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(257)	(210)
Purchases of investments	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	210	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	168	(975)
Capital contribution paid	(241)	0
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,060)	(1,185)
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	0	0
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	(29)	(600)
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	107	(96)
Intercompany dividend paid		0
Capital contribution received	0	0
Other financing activities	34	0
Net cash used in financing activities	112	(696)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(15)	(1,042)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	55	1,071
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	40	29
Subsidiary Issuer [Member] | CIFSA Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(53)	3,316
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	2,614	(2,749)
Intercompany dividend received	920
Capital contribution paid	(537)	(570)
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	2,997	(3,319)
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	0	0
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	0
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	(1,000)
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	(3,071)	311
Intercompany dividend paid	0	0
Capital contribution received	0	0
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,071)	(689)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(127)	(692)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	208	728
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	81	36
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member] | Medtronic Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	306	525
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	(2,703)	(539)
Capital contribution paid	0	(1,500)
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,703)	(2,039)
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	1,099	1,201
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	(48)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	139
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	1,298	53
Intercompany dividend paid		0
Capital contribution received	0	0
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	2,397	1,345
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	(169)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	170
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	1
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member] | CIFSA Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	160	709
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0
Purchases of investments	0	0
Sales and maturities of investments	0	0
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	(2,557)	(722)
Intercompany dividend received	0
Capital contribution paid	0	(1,500)
Other investing activities, net	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,557)	(2,222)
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	0	0
Change in current debt obligations, net	1,099	1,201
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	(48)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	0	139
Issuance of long-term debt	0
Payments on long-term debt	0	0
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	1,298	52
Intercompany dividend paid	0	0
Capital contribution received	0	0
Other financing activities	0	0
Net cash used in financing activities	2,397	1,344
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	0	(169)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	0	170
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	0	1
Subsidiary Non-guarantors [Member] | Medtronic Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,034	2,551
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(388)	(1,132)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(667)	(483)
Purchases of investments	(3,516)	(4,509)
Sales and maturities of investments	4,238	4,017
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	(2,902)	(2,544)
Capital contribution paid	0	0
Other investing activities, net	21	(11)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,214)	(4,662)
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	(58)	(21)
Change in current debt obligations, net	19	22
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	(2)	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	4	0
Issuance of long-term debt	131
Payments on long-term debt	(332)	(1,012)
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	(16)	991
Intercompany dividend paid		(8)
Capital contribution received	241	1,500
Other financing activities	46	0
Net cash used in financing activities	33	1,472
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	54	(9)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(93)	(648)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,821	3,339
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,728	2,691
Subsidiary Non-guarantors [Member] | CIFSA Senior Notes [Member]
Operating Activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	4,166	2,932
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,328)	(1,132)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	(924)	(693)
Purchases of investments	(3,354)	(4,509)
Sales and maturities of investments	4,286	4,017
Net (increase) decrease in intercompany loans	1,774	7,160
Intercompany dividend received	0
Capital contribution paid	0	0
Other investing activities, net	21	(11)
Net cash used in investing activities	475	4,832
Financing Activities:
Acquisition-related contingent consideration	(58)	(21)
Change in current debt obligations, net	19	22
Repayment of short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	(2)	0
Proceeds from short-term borrowings (maturities greater than 90 days)	4	0
Issuance of long-term debt	131
Payments on long-term debt	(361)	(612)
Dividends to shareholders	0	0
Issuance of ordinary shares	0	0
Repurchase of ordinary shares	0	0
Net intercompany loan borrowings (repayments)	(4,106)	(7,162)
Intercompany dividend paid	(920)	(3,050)
Capital contribution received	537	2,070
Other financing activities	80	0
Net cash used in financing activities	(4,676)	(8,753)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	54	(9)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	19	(998)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,668	3,682
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 2,687	$ 2,684