v3.20.2
Revenue Recognition (Revenue Categories) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2020
Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues $ 40,950 $ 44,957 $ 83,729 $ 89,784
Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 14,134 14,382 28,610 28,508
Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 5,422 5,331 10,820 10,586
Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 2,779 2,989 5,623 6,076
Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 10,766 12,204 22,095 24,364
Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1,413 2,407 3,276 5,058
Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1,233 1,841 2,777 3,613
Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1,304 1,869 2,733 3,502
Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 3,899 3,934 7,795 8,077
Corporate and Other [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 437 420 825 811
Corporate and Other [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 178 150 295 272
Corporate and Other [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 10 14 24 27
Corporate and Other [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 152 7 286 14
Corporate and Other [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Corporate and Other [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Corporate and Other [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Corporate and Other [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 62 210 145 419
Corporate and Other [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 35 39 75 79
Operating Segments [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 41,638 45,859 85,325 91,551
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 33,592 35,267 67,841 70,436
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 17,149 17,292 34,551 34,655
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 13,611 13,753 27,503 27,315
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 58 71 134 138
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Mobility [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 3,480 3,468 6,914 7,202
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 10,069 11,368 20,584 22,696
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 2,092 2,109 4,201 4,179
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 560 658 1,141 1,341
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 6,682 7,636 13,664 15,360
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 294 399 707 749
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 397 563 816 1,063
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Entertainment Group [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 44 3 55 4
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 6,374 6,607 12,706 13,085
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 3,320 3,208 6,595 6,380
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 2,067 2,324 4,196 4,721
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 782 897 1,535 1,647
Operating Segments [Member] | Communications [Member] | Business Wireline [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 205 178 380 337
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 6,814 8,835 14,662 17,640
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 2,988 3,410 6,150 6,853
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1,804 1,943 3,853 3,908
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 334 111 420 246
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 796 1,266 1,753 2,527
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 54 90 124 172
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Turner [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1,627 1,716 3,124 3,226
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1,441 1,516 2,779 2,850
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 181 198 338 371
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 5 2 7 5
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Home Box Office [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 3,256 3,389 6,496 6,907
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 16 23 26 44
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 3,179 3,175 6,239 6,507
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1 10 3 20
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 60 181 228 336
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Warner Bros. [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues (1,057) 320 (1,108) 654
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 71 54 134 103
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues (1,516) (237) (2,162) (389)
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 378 494 887 928
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 10 9 33 12
Operating Segments [Member] | WarnerMedia [Member] | Eliminations and other [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 1,232 1,757 2,822 3,475
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 752 1,032 1,639 2,099
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 752 1,032 1,639 2,099
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Vrio [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 480 725 1,183 1,376
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 345 479 812 921
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Mexico [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 135 246 371 455
Eliminations and consolidations [Member]        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues (1,125) (1,322) (2,421) (2,578)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Wireless service        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Advanced Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Legacy Voice and Data        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Subscription        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues 0 0 0 0
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Content        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues (765) (840) (1,559) (1,677)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Advertising        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues (294) (399) (707) (749)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Other        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues (66) (83) (155) (152)
Eliminations and consolidations [Member] | Equipment        
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]        
Total operating revenues $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0