Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (AOCI) - Reclassifications (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of products	$ 528	$ 512	$ 1,487	$ 1,539
Cost of services	672	644	1,951	2,161
Selling, general and administrative expenses	225	224	678	788
Research and development expenses	56	53	159	175
Interest expense	41	42	130	131
Income (loss) from continuing operations	109	103	215	(198)
Income tax expense	31	16	75	50
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	92	98	176	(206)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of products		(4)		(8)
Cost of services	(4)	(3)	(9)	(7)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	1	(4)	(4)
Research and development expenses		(1)	(2)	(2)
Interest expense		2	2	4
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(4)	(5)	(13)	(17)
Income tax expense	2	2	4	6
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	(2)	(3)	(9)	(11)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Actuarial losses recognized
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of products		0		0
Cost of services	(1)	0	(1)	1
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1	1	0	1
Research and development expenses		0	0	0
Interest expense		0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	0	1	(1)	2
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Amortization of prior service benefit
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of products		(1)		(1)
Cost of services	(3)	(3)	(8)	(8)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(1)	0	(4)	(5)
Research and development expenses		(1)	(2)	(2)
Interest expense		0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(4)	(5)	(14)	(16)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Effective Cash Flow Hedges
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Cost of products		(3)		(7)
Cost of services	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Research and development expenses		0	0	0
Interest expense		2	2	4
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 0	$ (1)	$ 2	$ (3)