How do I get a "Sidebar Button" and how do I make a group call?

Question

How do I get a "Sidebar Button" and how do I make a group call?

I wish to add an extra person to a two-way call I am having via Facetime.

There is a passage here telling me how to make such a "group call," titled:

"Add another person to a FaceTime call"

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208176

When I am in a Facetime Call, however, there is no sidebar.

Nor is there any "Sidebar Button" visible":

You will see that my computer is too old to run Mojave. Nevertheless, the other two participants (brother and mother) are running the latest software.

Please tell me:

a) How do I show the sidebar whilst I am in a call?

b) How do I make a group call from Facetime on OSX 10.13?

— and, if neither of the above are possible, then

c) Can I at least accept an invitation to a group call from one of the others?

My brother has the latest iPhone, my mother has the latest iPad.

When my brother tried to invite us to a group call, he got the situation pictured below, in which iPhone claimed it was waiting for us to pick up, but neither of us received an alert — either that he was calling or (later) that he had called.

Why is this - and what can we do to make a group call possible?

Posted on Sep 1, 2021 6:35 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Chris_C1

Community Specialist

Sep 2, 2021 6:32 AM in response to Eric M Colvin

Hello Eric,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

We understand that you are trying to join or make a Group FaceTime call. macOS 10.14.3 Mojave is required for Group FaceTime calling. If you do not have that, you will not be able to set up or participate in a Group FaceTime call. See this section from the article you reference:

"Group FaceTime audio and video call requirements

To make and receive FaceTime calls with multiple people (Group FaceTime), you and the people you’re calling must meet the following requirements:

Be connected to the internet
Be signed in to FaceTime with your Apple ID
Have a built-in or connected microphone; for FaceTime video calls, you also need a built-in or connected camera
Have one of the following:
macOS 10.14.3 Supplemental Update or later (See the Apple Support article About the security content of macOS Mojave 10.14.3 Supplemental Update.)
iOS 12.1.4 or later
- iPadOS

This feature may not be available in all countries or regions."

Best regards.

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