Revenue Revenue (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Revenue [Abstract]
Receivable [Policy Text Block]	Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable represent unconditional rights to consideration due from customers in the ordinary course of business and are generally due in one year or less. Accounts receivable are recorded at amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses for expected credit losses that are not expected to be recovered. The allowance for credit losses is recognized at inception and is reassessed on a quarterly basis. The Company’s allowance for credit losses is evaluated on a pooled basis for assets with similar risk characteristics, which is based on customer type. For each pool of customers, the allowance for credit losses is estimated based on the delinquency status of the underlying receivables and the related historical loss experience, as adjusted for current and expected future conditions, if applicable. The allowance for credit losses was not material for the individual customer pools
Revenue Outright Sale Policy [Policy Text Block]	In transactions involving a security system that is sold outright to the customer, the Company’s performance obligations generally include monitoring, related services, and the sale and installation of the security system. For such arrangements, the Company allocates a portion of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative standalone selling price, which is determined using observable internal or external pricing and profitability metrics. Revenue associated with the sale and installation of a security system is recognized either at a point in time or over time based upon the nature of the transaction and contractual terms and is reflected in installation and other revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Revenue associated with monitoring and related services is recognized as those services are provided and is reflected in monitoring and related services revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]	Customer billings for services not yet rendered are deferred and recognized as revenue as services are provided. These fees are recorded as current deferred revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company expects to satisfy any remaining performance obligations, as well as recognize the related revenue, within the next twelve months. Accordingly, the Company has applied the practical expedient regarding deferred revenue to exclude the value of remaining performance obligations if (i) the contract has an original expected term of one year or less or (ii) the Company recognizes revenue in proportion to the amount it has the right to invoice for services performed. The Company generates revenue primarily through contractual monthly recurring fees received for monitoring and related services provided to customers. In transactions in which the Company provides monitoring and related services but retains ownership of the security system, the Company’s performance obligations primarily include monitoring, related services (such as maintenance agreements), and a material right associated with the non-refundable fees received in connection with the initiation of a monitoring contract (referred to as deferred subscriber acquisition revenue) that the customer will not need to pay upon a renewal of the contract. The portion of the transaction price associated with monitoring and related services revenue is recognized when the services are provided to the customer and is reflected in monitoring and related services revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Deferred Subscriber Acquisition Costs [Policy Text Block]	Deferred subscriber acquisition costs represent incremental selling expenses (primarily commissions) related to acquiring customers. Amortization expense relating to deferred subscriber acquisition costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations was $23 million and $18 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Policy for Uncollectible Amounts [Policy Text Block]	Retail Installment Contract Receivables During February 2020, the Company launched a new retail installment contract which allows qualifying residential customers to repay the fees due at installation over a 24, 36, or 60 month period. The financing component of a retail installment contract receivable is not significant. When originating a retail installment contract, the Company utilizes external credit scores to assess credit quality of a customer and to determine eligibility for the retail installment contract. In addition, a customer is required to enroll in the Company’s automated payment process in order to enter into a retail installment contract. Subsequent to the origination of a retail installment contract, the Company monitors the delinquency status of retail installment contract receivables as the key credit quality indicator. As of March 31, 2020, the amount of current and delinquent billed retail installment contract receivables was not material. Retail installment contract receivables are recorded at amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses for expected credit losses that are not expected to be recovered. The allowance for credit losses is recognized at inception and is reassessed on a quarterly basis. The allowance for credit losses on retail installment contract receivables was not material for the periods presented.
ADT Contract Assets, Allowance for Credit Loses [Policy Text Block]	he Company records an allowance for credit losses against its contract assets for expected credit losses that are not expected to be recovered. The allowance for credit losses is recognized at inception and is reassessed on a quarterly basis. The allowance for credit losses on contract assets was not material for the periods presented.
Contract Liability Policy [Policy Text Block]	Deferred subscriber acquisition revenue is deferred and recorded as deferred subscriber acquisition revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets upon initiation of a monitoring contract. Deferred subscriber acquisition revenue is amortized on a pooled basis into installation and other revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations over the estimated life of the customer relationship using an accelerated method consistent with the amortization of subscriber system assets and deferred subscriber acquisition costs associated with the transaction.
contracts with customers, contract assets policy [Policy Text Block]	ontract Assets Contract assets represent rights to consideration in which the Company has transferred goods or services to the customer in the ordinary course of business, however, the Company does not have an unconditional right to such consideration. The contract asset is reclassified to accounts receivable as services are performed and billed, which results in the Company’s unconditional right to the consideration. The Company has the right to bill the customer as service is provided over time, which generally occurs over the course of a 24, 36, or 60 month period.

Revenue Revenue (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable represent unconditional rights to consideration due from customers in the ordinary course of business and are generally due in one year or less. Accounts receivable are recorded at amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses for expected credit losses that are not expected to be recovered. The allowance for credit losses is recognized at inception and is reassessed on a quarterly basis.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses is evaluated on a pooled basis for assets with similar risk characteristics, which is based on customer type. For each pool of customers, the allowance for credit losses is estimated based on the delinquency status of the underlying receivables and the related historical loss experience, as adjusted for current and expected future conditions, if applicable. The allowance for credit losses was not material for the individual customer pools

Revenue Outright Sale Policy [Policy Text Block]

In transactions involving a security system that is sold outright to the customer, the Company’s performance obligations generally include monitoring, related services, and the sale and installation of the security system. For such arrangements, the Company allocates a portion of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative standalone selling price, which is determined using observable internal or external pricing and profitability metrics. Revenue associated with the sale and installation of a security system is recognized either at a point in time or over time based upon the nature of the transaction and contractual terms and is reflected in installation and other revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Revenue associated with monitoring and related services is recognized as those services are provided and is reflected in monitoring and related services revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Policy Text Block]

Customer billings for services not yet rendered are deferred and recognized as revenue as services are provided. These fees are recorded as current deferred revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the Company expects to satisfy any remaining performance obligations, as well as recognize the related revenue, within the next twelve months. Accordingly, the Company has applied the practical expedient regarding deferred revenue to exclude the value of remaining performance obligations if (i) the contract has an original expected term of one year or less or (ii) the Company recognizes revenue in proportion to the amount it has the right to invoice for services performed.

The Company generates revenue primarily through contractual monthly recurring fees received for monitoring and related services provided to customers. In transactions in which the Company provides monitoring and related services but retains ownership of the security system, the Company’s performance obligations primarily include monitoring, related services (such as maintenance agreements), and a material right associated with the non-refundable fees received in connection with the initiation of a monitoring contract (referred to as deferred subscriber acquisition revenue) that the customer will not need to pay upon a renewal of the contract. The portion of the transaction price associated with monitoring and related services revenue is recognized when the services are provided to the customer and is reflected in monitoring and related services revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Deferred Subscriber Acquisition Costs [Policy Text Block]

Deferred subscriber acquisition costs represent incremental selling expenses (primarily commissions) related to acquiring customers. Amortization expense relating to deferred subscriber acquisition costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations was $23 million and $18 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Policy for Uncollectible Amounts [Policy Text Block]

Retail Installment Contract Receivables

During February 2020, the Company launched a new retail installment contract which allows qualifying residential customers to repay the fees due at installation over a 24, 36, or 60 month period. The financing component of a retail installment contract receivable is not significant.

When originating a retail installment contract, the Company utilizes external credit scores to assess credit quality of a customer and to determine eligibility for the retail installment contract. In addition, a customer is required to enroll in the Company’s automated payment process in order to enter into a retail installment contract. Subsequent to the origination of a retail installment contract, the Company monitors the delinquency status of retail installment contract receivables as the key credit quality indicator. As of March 31, 2020, the amount of current and delinquent billed retail installment contract receivables was not material.

Retail installment contract receivables are recorded at amortized cost less an allowance for credit losses for expected credit losses that are not expected to be recovered. The allowance for credit losses is recognized at inception and is reassessed on a quarterly basis. The allowance for credit losses on retail installment contract receivables was not material for the periods presented.

ADT Contract Assets, Allowance for Credit Loses [Policy Text Block]

he Company records an allowance for credit losses against its contract assets for expected credit losses that are not expected to be recovered. The allowance for credit losses is recognized at inception and is reassessed on a quarterly basis. The allowance for credit losses on contract assets was not material for the periods presented.

Contract Liability Policy [Policy Text Block]

Deferred subscriber acquisition revenue is deferred and recorded as deferred subscriber acquisition revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets upon initiation of a monitoring contract. Deferred subscriber acquisition revenue is amortized on a pooled basis into installation and other revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations over the estimated life of the customer relationship using an accelerated method consistent with the amortization of subscriber system assets and deferred subscriber acquisition costs associated with the transaction.

contracts with customers, contract assets policy [Policy Text Block]

ontract Assets

Contract assets represent rights to consideration in which the Company has transferred goods or services to the customer in the ordinary course of business, however, the Company does not have an unconditional right to such consideration. The contract asset is reclassified to accounts receivable as services are performed and billed, which results in the Company’s unconditional right to the consideration. The Company has the right to bill the customer as service is provided over time, which generally occurs over the course of a 24, 36, or 60 month period.