Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2019	Jul. 26, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Jul. 27, 2018	Oct. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 7,706,000,000		$ 7,481,000,000		$ 15,199,000,000	$ 14,865,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold	2,394,000,000		2,203,000,000		4,760,000,000	4,407,000,000
Research and development expense	603,000,000		590,000,000		1,190,000,000	1,175,000,000
Selling, general, and administrative expense	2,620,000,000		2,605,000,000		5,163,000,000	5,202,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	441,000,000		445,000,000		881,000,000	891,000,000
Restructuring charges, net	27,000,000		24,000,000		74,000,000	86,000,000
Certain litigation charges	121,000,000		0		168,000,000	103,000,000
Other operating expense, net	149,000,000		70,000,000		127,000,000	221,000,000
Operating profit (loss)	1,351,000,000		1,544,000,000		2,836,000,000	2,780,000,000
Other non-operating income, net	(108,000,000)		(52,000,000)		(209,000,000)	(238,000,000)
Interest expense	165,000,000		241,000,000		774,000,000	483,000,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,294,000,000		1,355,000,000		2,271,000,000	2,535,000,000
Income tax provision	(77,000,000)		235,000,000		23,000,000	338,000,000
Net income (loss)	1,371,000,000	$ 877,000,000	1,120,000,000	$ 1,077,000,000	2,248,000,000	2,197,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(7,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(20,000,000)	(7,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Medtronic	$ 1,364,000,000		$ 1,115,000,000		$ 2,228,000,000	$ 2,190,000,000
Basic earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 1.02		$ 0.83		$ 1.66	$ 1.62
Diluted earnings per share (usd per share)	$ 1.01		$ 0.82		$ 1.65	$ 1.61
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,340.8		1,349.2		1,340.8	1,350.9
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (shares)	1,351.4		1,360.9		1,351.6	1,363.0