| Year: | 1981 |
| Team: | Appalachian State Mountaineers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SoCon |
| Record: | 3–7–1 |
| Conf Record: | 1–5–1 |
| Head Coach: | Mike Working |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Conrad Stadium |
The 1981 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team was an American football team that represented Appalachian State University as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Mike Working, the Mountaineers compiled an overall record of 3–7–1 with a mark of 1–5–1 in conference play, and finished seventh in the SoCon.