Financial Instruments - Activity Related to the Company's Investment Portfolio, Equity and Other Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2022	Jan. 29, 2021	Jan. 28, 2022	Jan. 29, 2021
Marketable Securities [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales			$ 7,130	$ 6,753
Equity and Other Investments
Marketable Securities [Line Items]
Proceeds from sales	$ 15	$ 10	82	11
Gross gains	29	18	99	32
Gross losses	(28)	0	(48)	(2)
Impairment losses recognized	$ 0	$ 0	$ (10)	$ (2)

Gain on Investments

No definition available.

Name:	mdt_GainonInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss on Investments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mdt_LossonInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	mdt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 320
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 8A
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124260329&loc=SL6284422-111562

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MarketableSecuritiesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the sale, maturity and collection of all investments such as debt, security and so forth during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=mdt_EquityInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: