Acquisitions - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended			13 Months Ended
	Dec. 18, 2018	Apr. 24, 2020	Apr. 26, 2019	Apr. 27, 2018	Jan. 24, 2020
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill		$ 39,841,000,000	$ 39,959,000,000	$ 39,543,000,000
Purchase price contingent consideration		125,000,000	151,000,000
Purchase accounting adjustments. increase to goodwill		124,000,000
Fair value of contingent consideration		280,000,000	222,000,000	173,000,000
Other accrued expenses
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of contingent consideration		112,000,000	73,000,000
Other liabilities
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of contingent consideration		168,000,000	149,000,000
IPR&D
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
In-process research and development acquired in connection with asset acquisition		$ 0	38,000,000	$ 0
Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		3 years
Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		20 years
All Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net assets acquired		$ 612,000,000
Assets acquired		679,000,000
Liabilities assumed		67,000,000
Goodwill		333,000,000
Inventory		40,000,000
Purchase price contingent consideration		80,000,000
All Business Acquisitions | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets acquired		$ 236,000,000
All Business Acquisitions | Technology-Based Intangible Assets | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		8 years
All Business Acquisitions | Technology-Based Intangible Assets | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		16 years
All Business Acquisitions | Customer-Related Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets acquired		$ 26,000,000
All Business Acquisitions | Customer-Related Intangible Assets | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		8 years
All Business Acquisitions | Customer-Related Intangible Assets | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		16 years
Mazor Robotics
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net assets acquired	$ 1,674,000,000
Assets acquired	1,905,000,000
Liabilities assumed	231,000,000
Intangible assets acquired	399,000,000
Goodwill	1,318,000,000
Inventory	5,000,000
Total consideration for the transaction, net of cash acquired, including previously-held equity investment	1,600,000,000
Cash consideration	1,300,000,000
Previously-held equity investment	246,000,000
Costs incurred in connection with acquisition			51,000,000
Purchase accounting adjustments. increase to goodwill					$ 105,000,000
Mazor Robotics | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets acquired	$ 383,000,000
Estimated useful life	10 years
Mazor Robotics | Tradenames
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets acquired	$ 16,000,000
Estimated useful life	10 years
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net assets acquired			698,000,000
Assets acquired			763,000,000
Liabilities assumed			65,000,000
Goodwill			313,000,000
Purchase price contingent consideration			151,000,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | IPR&D
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
In-process research and development acquired in connection with asset acquisition			171,000,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Technology-Based Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets acquired			$ 161,000,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Technology-Based Intangible Assets | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			4 years
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Technology-Based Intangible Assets | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			15 years
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Customer-Related Intangible Assets
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets acquired			$ 40,000,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Customer-Related Intangible Assets | Minimum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			10 years
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Customer-Related Intangible Assets | Maximum
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			13 years