Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Product revenue	$ 2,737	$ 2,711	$ 2,892
Service revenue	3,806	3,662	3,699
Total revenue	6,543	6,373	6,591
Cost of products	2,102	2,072	2,153
Cost of services	2,659	2,832	2,706
Selling, general and administrative expenses	926	1,042	1,012
Research and development expenses	242	230	263
Restructuring-related charges	15	62	104
Total operating expenses	5,944	6,238	6,238
Income from operations	599	135	353
Interest expense	(170)	(173)	(181)
Other (expense), net	(50)	(57)	(35)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	379	(95)	137
Income tax expense (benefit)	92	55	(48)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	287	(150)	185
Loss (income) from discontinued operations	(13)	(24)	10
Net income (loss)	274	(174)	195
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	4	4	4
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR	270	(178)	191
Amounts attributable to NCR common stockholders:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	283	(154)	181
Dividends on convertible preferred stock	(49)	(4)	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common stockholders	234	(158)	181
Loss (income) from discontinued operations	(13)	(24)	10
Net income (loss) attributable to NCR common stockholders	$ 221	$ (182)	$ 191
Income (loss) per share attributable to NCR common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 1.86	$ (0.94)	$ 1.08
Diluted (in dollars per share)	1.80	(0.94)	1.06
Net income (loss) per common share
Basic (in dollars per share)	1.76	(1.09)	1.14
Total diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 1.71	$ (1.09)	$ 1.12
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	125.6	167.6	167.9
Diluted (continuing operations)	157.4	167.6	171.2
Diluted (net income)	129.2	167.6	171.2