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Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jan. 02, 2015
Dec. 27, 2013
Jan. 02, 2015
Dec. 27, 2013
Mar. 30, 2012
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Effective tax rate 29.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 27.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 26.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 21.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations  
Ownership in the joint venture with Huawei         49.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Income tax expense (benefit) $ 90us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 104us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 248us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ 177us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit  
Effective tax rate, forecasted 28.00%symc_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateForecastedPercent 29.00%symc_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateForecastedPercent 28.00%symc_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateForecastedPercent 29.00%symc_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateForecastedPercent  
Significant change in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible, estimated range of change, lower bound 30us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeLowerBound   30us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeLowerBound    
Significant change in unrecognized tax benefits is reasonably possible, estimated range of change, upper bound 150us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBound   150us-gaap_SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleEstimatedRangeOfChangeUpperBound    
Amount on deposit with the IRS pertaining to US Tax matters in the Symantec 2009-2013 audit cycles 127symc_AmountOnDepositWithFederalTaxingAuthority   127symc_AmountOnDepositWithFederalTaxingAuthority    
Tax Settlements And Lapse Of Statutes Of Limitations          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Decrease in tax expense 8us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_TaxSettlementsAndLapseOfStatutesOfLimitationsMember
2us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_TaxSettlementsAndLapseOfStatutesOfLimitationsMember
28us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_TaxSettlementsAndLapseOfStatutesOfLimitationsMember
13us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_TaxSettlementsAndLapseOfStatutesOfLimitationsMember
 
Extension of Research and Development Tax Credit          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Decrease in tax expense 2us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_ExtensionofResearchandDevelopmentTaxCreditMember
  2us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_ExtensionofResearchandDevelopmentTaxCreditMember
   
Foreign Operations          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Decrease in tax expense   7us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_ForeignOperationsMember
  7us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_ForeignOperationsMember
 
Sale Of Short Term Investments          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Income tax expense (benefit)       12us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_SaleOfShortTermInvestmentsMember
 
Minimum          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Unrecognized tax benefits that could affect effective tax rate 15us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
  15us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Reasonably possible additional cash payments 15symc_PotentialFutureCashOutflowforPaymentsofIncomeTaxesandInterest
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
  15symc_PotentialFutureCashOutflowforPaymentsofIncomeTaxesandInterest
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
   
Maximum          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Unrecognized tax benefits that could affect effective tax rate 70us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
  70us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Reasonably possible additional cash payments 65symc_PotentialFutureCashOutflowforPaymentsofIncomeTaxesandInterest
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
  65symc_PotentialFutureCashOutflowforPaymentsofIncomeTaxesandInterest
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
   
Joint Venture with Huawei | Tax Settlements And Lapse Of Statutes Of Limitations          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Decrease in tax expense       33us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ symc_IncomeTaxesAxis
= symc_TaxSettlementsAndLapseOfStatutesOfLimitationsMember
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvesteeMember
 
Tax Years 2005 through 2008          
Income Taxes [Line Items]          
Decrease in tax expense       $ 24us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis
= symc_TaxYears2005through2008Member