Balance Sheet Details (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Apr. 30, 2016	Jul. 25, 2015
Inventories:
Raw materials	$ 108	$ 114
Work in process	0	2
Distributor inventory and deferred cost of sales	513	610
Manufactured finished goods	469	593
Total finished goods	982	1,203
Service-related spares	234	258
Demonstration systems	19	50
Total	1,343	1,627
Property and equipment, net:
Land, buildings, and building and leasehold improvements	4,706	4,495
Computer equipment and related software	1,384	1,310
Production, engineering, and other equipment	5,700	5,753
Operating lease assets	325	372
Furniture and fixtures	527	497
Property, plant and equipment, gross	12,642	12,427
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(9,113)	(9,095)
Total	3,529	3,332
Other assets:
Deferred tax assets	1,345	1,648
Investments in privately held companies	976	897
Other	827	618
Total	3,148	3,163
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	15,272	15,183
Current	9,662	9,824
Noncurrent	5,610	5,359
Service
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	9,866	9,757
Product:
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	5,406	5,426
Product: | Unrecognized revenue on product shipments and other deferred revenue
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	4,987	4,766
Product: | Cash receipts related to unrecognized revenue from two-tier distributors
Deferred Revenue Arrangement [Line Items]
Deferred revenue:	$ 419	$ 660