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Reorganization of Business (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended
Apr. 04, 2015
Mar. 29, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Reorganization of business charges $ 14,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions $ 10,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions  
Restructuring reserve 44,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve   57,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Restructuring charges 14,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges    
Restructuring charges settled with cash 28,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring    
Restructuring reversals no longer needed 1,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment (1,000,000)us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment  
Employee separation costs      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Reorganization of business charges 10,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
   
Restructuring reserve 39,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
  57,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Restructuring charges 10,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
8,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
 
Restructuring charges settled with cash 28,000,000us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
   
Restructuring reversals no longer needed 0us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
   
Number of Employees Impacted By Reorganization of Business      
Restructuring charges in the period for total employee severance (in number of employees) 100msi_RestructuringChargesEmployees
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
   
Number of employees expected to be paid (in number of employees) 450msi_NumberOfEmployeesExpectedToBePaidRemainingAccrualsWithinOneYear
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
   
Exit costs      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Reorganization of business charges 4,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= msi_ExitCostsMember
3,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= msi_ExitCostsMember
 
Restructuring reserve 5,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= msi_ExitCostsMember
  0us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= msi_ExitCostsMember
Restructuring charges 4,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= msi_ExitCostsMember
   
Restructuring charges settled with cash 0us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= msi_ExitCostsMember
   
Restructuring reversals no longer needed 1,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringReserveAccrualAdjustment
/ us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis
= msi_ExitCostsMember
   
Other charges      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Reorganization of business charges 12,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
9,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_OtherExpenseMember
 
Costs of sales      
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]      
Reorganization of business charges $ 2,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
$ 1,000,000us-gaap_RestructuringSettlementAndImpairmentProvisions
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember