Segment and Geographic Information (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Oct. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018	Oct. 25, 2019	Oct. 26, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 7,706,000,000	$ 7,481,000,000	$ 15,199,000,000	$ 14,865,000,000
Income before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Segment operating profit	1,351,000,000	1,544,000,000	2,836,000,000	2,780,000,000
Interest expense	(165,000,000)	(241,000,000)	(774,000,000)	(483,000,000)
Amortization of intangible assets	(441,000,000)	(445,000,000)	(881,000,000)	(891,000,000)
Restructuring and associated costs	(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)
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,294,000,000	1,355,000,000	2,271,000,000	2,535,000,000
Ireland
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	23,000,000	22,000,000	43,000,000	44,000,000
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	4,129,000,000	4,045,000,000	8,046,000,000	7,909,000,000
Rest of world
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	3,554,000,000	3,414,000,000	7,110,000,000	6,912,000,000
Total other countries, excluding Ireland
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	7,683,000,000	7,459,000,000	15,156,000,000	14,821,000,000
Operating Segments
Income before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Segment operating profit	2,939,000,000	2,909,000,000	5,706,000,000	5,672,000,000
Segment Reconciling Items
Income before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Interest expense	(165,000,000)	(241,000,000)	(774,000,000)	(483,000,000)
Other non-operating income, net	108,000,000	52,000,000	209,000,000	238,000,000
Amortization of intangible assets	(441,000,000)	(445,000,000)	(881,000,000)	(891,000,000)
Corporate	(350,000,000)	(342,000,000)	(657,000,000)	(645,000,000)
Centralized distribution costs	(424,000,000)	(482,000,000)	(768,000,000)	(928,000,000)
Restructuring and associated costs	(94,000,000)	(77,000,000)	(218,000,000)	(190,000,000)
Acquisition-related items	(27,000,000)	(4,000,000)	(46,000,000)	(40,000,000)
Certain litigation charges	(121,000,000)	0	(168,000,000)	(103,000,000)
IPR&D charges	0	(15,000,000)	0	(15,000,000)
Exit of businesses	(41,000,000)	0	(41,000,000)	(80,000,000)
Debt tender premium and other charges	0	0	7,000,000	0
Medical device regulations	(10,000,000)	0	(18,000,000)	0
Contribution to Medtronic Foundation	(80,000,000)	0	(80,000,000)	0
Cardiac and Vascular Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,855,000,000	2,858,000,000	5,645,000,000	5,669,000,000
Cardiac and Vascular Group | United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,455,000,000	1,482,000,000	2,816,000,000	2,871,000,000
Cardiac and Vascular Group | Operating Segments
Income before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Segment operating profit	1,128,000,000	1,137,000,000	2,183,000,000	2,186,000,000
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,142,000,000	2,047,000,000	4,242,000,000	4,099,000,000
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	922,000,000	872,000,000	1,835,000,000	1,729,000,000
Minimally Invasive Therapies Group | Operating Segments
Income before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Segment operating profit	823,000,000	792,000,000	1,593,000,000	1,568,000,000
Restorative Therapies Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	2,112,000,000	1,993,000,000	4,124,000,000	3,942,000,000
Restorative Therapies Group | United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,440,000,000	1,357,000,000	2,778,000,000	2,651,000,000
Restorative Therapies Group | Operating Segments
Income before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Segment operating profit	840,000,000	804,000,000	1,633,000,000	1,570,000,000
Diabetes Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	596,000,000	583,000,000	1,188,000,000	1,155,000,000
Diabetes Group | United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	311,000,000	334,000,000	618,000,000	658,000,000
Diabetes Group | Operating Segments
Income before Income Taxes by Reportable Segment
Segment operating profit	$ 148,000,000	$ 176,000,000	$ 297,000,000	$ 348,000,000