Balance Sheet Details (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Apr. 25, 2015	Jul. 26, 2014
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 264	$ 77
Work in process	2	5
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	635	595
Manufactured finished goods	547	606
Total finished goods	1,182	1,201
Service-related spares	268	273
Demonstration systems	44	35
Total	1,760	1,591
Property and equipment, net:
Land, buildings, and building and leasehold improvements	4,465	4,468
Computer equipment and related software	1,344	1,425
Production, engineering, and other equipment	5,795	5,756
Operating lease assets	359	362
Furniture and fixtures	498	509
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,461	12,520
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(9,185)	(9,268)
Total	3,276	3,252
Other assets:
Deferred tax assets	1,437	1,700
Investments in privately held companies	873	899
Other	765	732
Total	3,075	3,331
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	14,181	14,142
Current	9,371	9,478
Noncurrent	4,810	4,664
Service
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	9,236	9,640
Product:
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	4,945	4,502
Product: | Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other deferred revenue
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	4,258	3,924
Product: | Cash receipts related to unrecognized revenue from two-tier distributors
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	$ 687	$ 578