FaceTime group ipad version 12.4.9

You cannot DO group FaceTime video calls with an iPad running iOS 12.

You can ONLY DO group FaceTime audio calls.

That is the real reason.

To do group FaceTime video calls, you need an iPad model that can be upgraded to iOS/iPadOS 13 or later.

The 2013 iPad Air 1, iPad Mini 2 and 2014 iPad Mini 3 have overall internal hardware that is too old, too underpowered and incapable of running all of the new, advanced and internal hardware resource intensive features of iPadOS.

Sorry.

If you need/want an iPad with an up to date iPadOS with access to current, updated apps, then you really need to seriously consider a new iPad model OR a much “newer” , used iPad model capable of running the latest iPadOS versions. There are plenty of newer, older iPad models that can run the latest, current versions of iPadOS.

Sorry & Best of Luck to You!

The ultimate reason is that your iPad model is too old, cannot upgrade past any version of iOS 12, currently at iOS 12.5.1.

Your year and model iPad can only DO group FaceTime audio calls, despite the fact your iPad is running iOS 12.

The group FaceTime audio ONLY limitation is do to the limitations of your iPad model's older internal hardware.

Per Apple.

“* To use Group FaceTime video calls, you need iOS 12.1.4 or later, or iPadOS on one of these devices: iPhone 6s or later, iPad Pro or later, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad mini 4 or later, iPad (5th generation) or later, or iPod touch (7th generation). Earlier models of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that support iOS 12.1.4 can join Group FaceTime calls as audio participants.”

You have the older iPad Air 1 model and NOT an iPad Air 2.

It is your hardware.

You have the original, 2013 iPad Air 1, which cannot upgrade past any version of iOS 12 and cannot do FaceTime video calls.

Per Apple.

“* To use Group FaceTime video calls, you need iOS 12.1.4 or later, or iPadOS on one of these devices: iPhone 6s or later, iPad Pro or later, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad mini 4 or later, iPad (5th generation) or later, or iPod touch (7th generation). Earlier models of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that support iOS 12.1.4 can join Group FaceTime calls as audio participants.”

You have the older iPad Air 1 model and NOT an iPad Air 2.

Sorry.

It is possible that the other person does not have iOS 12.1 or higher? Check the requirements here, Use Group FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support. This applies to both parties.

Sorry if I confused you. I just meant that I may have misunderstood the support document, and I did. I did not look at the OP's profile to see it was the incorrect version of iPad to support the video call. Thank you for the clarity.

If the OP’s iPad is still using or stuck on some version of iOS 12, it is a reasonably sure bet that the OP has a 2013 iPad Air 1, iPad Mini 2 and 2014 iPad Mini 3

Sorry if I was incorrect, but the support document I read indicated you can do a FaceTime group video with iOS 12.1.4 or later. Did I interpret the information incorrectly, or did I miss the hardware identification?