Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Total Shareholders’ Equity	Ordinary Shares	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance (shares) at Apr. 25, 2014			999,000,000
Balance at Apr. 25, 2014	$ 19,443	$ 19,443	$ 100	$ 0	$ 19,940	$ (597)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	2,675	2,675			2,675		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(587)	(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		33,787
Result of contribution of Medtronic, Inc. to Medtronic plc and other	0	0	$ (99)	99
Dividends to shareholders	(1,337)	(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	649	$ 2	647
Repurchase of ordinary shares (shares)			(30,000,000)
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(1,920)	(1,920)	$ (3)	(944)	(973)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock-based awards	81	81		81
Stock-based compensation	439	439		439
Balance (shares) at Apr. 24, 2015			1,422,000,000
Balance at Apr. 24, 2015	53,230	53,230	$ 0	34,109	20,305	(1,184)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	3,538	3,538			3,538		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(684)	(684)				(684)
Dividends to shareholders	(2,139)	(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	491		491
Repurchase of ordinary shares (shares)			(38,000,000)
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(2,830)	(2,830)		(2,830)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock-based awards	82	82		82
Stock-based compensation	$ 375	375		375
Balance (shares) at Apr. 29, 2016	1,399,018,022		1,399,000,000
Balance at Apr. 29, 2016	$ 52,063	52,063	$ 0	32,227	21,704	(1,868)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	4,024	4,028			4,028		(4)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(744)	(745)				(745)	1
Dividends to shareholders	(2,376)	(2,376)			(2,376)
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans (shares)			13,000,000
Issuance of shares under stock purchase and award plans	428	428		428
Repurchase of ordinary shares (shares)			(43,000,000)
Repurchase of ordinary shares	(3,544)	(3,544)		(3,544)
Tax benefit from exercise of stock-based awards	92	92		92
Stock-based compensation	348	348		348
Additions of noncontrolling ownership interests	$ 125						125
Balance (shares) at Apr. 28, 2017	1,369,424,818		1,369,000,000
Balance at Apr. 28, 2017	$ 50,416	$ 50,294	$ 0	$ 29,551	$ 23,356	$ (2,613)	$ 122